Caledon OPP monitoring neighbourhoods after more car thefts

Written By JOSHUA SANTOS

Multiple car thefts have occurred in Southfields Village subdivision and within Caledon East from Oct. 12 to Oct. 18.

Caledon OPP learned about additional incidents of this nature following a media release sent out on Oct. 23.

If you have been a victim of this property crime and you have not yet reported it to the police, they are asking that you contact Det. Const. Steven Linton of the community street crime unit to report the incident.

Further, if you possess video surveillance footage surveillance that would assist in this matter, please contact Linton at (905)-584-2241 or 1-888-310-1122. He can also be reached by email at steven.m.linton@opp.ca.

Keep in mind the benefits of reporting crime to the police - it allows for their crime analysts to map the data and accurately record statistics and helps build an intelligence network where police can get a better picture of what's really going on in the community. If you are the victim of a crime and you don't report it, then the police are led to believe that no issue present. As the public, the police need your help to assist them in keeping communities safe and to help prevent crime. The OPP are asking that you come forward to report crime if you are the victim of it.

Remember, the public is vital to helping us solve crime - being the eyes and the ears of the community while the police are the hands and the feet, states the OPP in a news release.

The OPP is encouraging residents to join or create a neighbourhood watch group in their area. They state this can enhance awareness getting to know what's normal in the area as opposed to what's not, it can build a strong community network within the neighbourhood watch community but also between the police and community, it can help make homes and neighbourhoods safer as residents take an active role in security improvements in their home accompanied by observation and it an aid in reporting suspicious person or vehicles to the police. They encourage people call 911 for emergencies and 1-888-310-1122 for non-emergencies.

  There's a neighbourhood watch group on Facebook for SouthFields Village and Anthem subdivision residents called SFV and Anthem Neighbourhood Watch.

Two youth arrested after causing significant damage to a Bolton camp

In Feb. of 2017 and March of 2018 Caledon OPP received a report of damage located on the property of a summer camp in Bolton.

In the incident from 2017, a tractor and surveillance equipment had been vandalized causing thousands of dollars in damage.

In the incident from 2018, a bulldozer had been driven into multiple buildings causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.

As a result of two lengthy police investigations conducted by Caledon OPP, two males have been arrested and charged for these crimes.

From the 2017 incident, an 18-year-old man from Caledon, who was 17 years of age at the time of the crime, has been charged with two counts of mischief for Destroying Property, one count of imitation with firearm and one count of possession of weapon for dangerous purpose.

The accused is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on Oct. 29.

Further, from the 2018 incident, a 17-year-old man from Caledon has been charged with one count of mischief of destroying property and one count of mischief of rendering property dangerous.

The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on Nov. 5, 2018 to answer to the charges.

RIDE programs in Caledon

Members from Caledon Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind residents that officers will be out and about conducting RIDE programs in various locations throughout the Town of Caledon to ensure the roads stay safe.

While RIDE programs operate year-round, officers pay particular attention to conducting RIDE during this time of year as people are gearing up for the holidays and attending celebrations. With that being said, police ask that you please make the right decision and choose a safe and sober ride home - be it a cab, public transit or a designated driver. Avoid riding in the back of a cruiser, ambulance or worst a hearse.

Be mindful that when you're approaching a RIDE location, officer safety is paramount as officers are positioned in live lanes of traffic. When you see police lights flashing - slow down, proceed with caution, and afford officers a safe distance from your vehicle.

Thinking about Conducting a U-turn to Avoid the RIDE?

On Monday, Oct. 22 members from the Caledon Detachment OPP were conducting a RIDE program on Kennedy Road in SouthFields Village.

At about 11:42 pm, an SUV was observed approaching the RIDE location prior to the driver conducting a U-turn in the opposite direction of the RIDE. Subsequently, the vehicle was stopped by police in order to check for sobriety of the driver.  Following an investigation at the roadside, the driver was subsequently arrested.

As a result, a 28-year-old man of Caledon was charged criminally with driving impaired and failing to provide a breath sample.

The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on Nov. 8 to answer to the charges.

Driving with Cannabis? Make Sure You Abide by the Law:

On Monday, Oct. 22, 2018 members from the Caledon OPP were conducting a RIDE program on Kennedy Road in SouthFields Village.

At approximately 12:00 am, a sedan entered the RIDE and an officer observed cannabis readily available to the driver.

As a result, an 18-year-old man of Caledon was charged provincially for the following offences:

• Person Under 19 years - Possess Cannabis ($125 fine)

• Drive Vehicle or Boat with Cannabis Readily Available ($215 fine)