Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Fraud Alert

Officers from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Fraud Unit are currently investigating an incident that took place yesterday morning. As a result the police are reminding the public to be diligent in protecting their debit card and pin number.

Yesterday morning a female attended at the Cambrian Mall and used one of the ATM machines. She withdrew an undisclosed amount of cash. The female did note that there was a male hanging around her while she was conducting this transaction.

When the female was making a purchase inside a store she again noted the same male in the immediate area while she was entering her pin number.

When the female left the Mall to go to her vehicle the same male approached her. He asked her for directions to get to the downtown area. The female checked and saw that her purse was still in the cart and everything appeared to be intact.

When the female returned home she noticed that her wallet was gone from the purse. She immediately attended at her bank and discovered that $5,000 had been removed from her account via the debit card.

The Sault Ste. Marie Fraud Unit advises that similar incidents like this have occurred in other parts of Northern Ontario.

The male who approached the victim is described as being in his 30’s with a full head of dark coloured hair and a darker complexion-more of a Mediterranean or European descent than dark. The male was wearing a black leather jacket. It is a believed that the male may have had an accomplice with him.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service would like to remind the public to public of the following safety tips:

1) Do not leave your purses unattended for any time.

2) Do not leave purses unattended in shopping cards while looking at merchandise.

3) Do not write your pin number down anywhere inside your wallet or purse.

4) When you are using a debit machine or banking machine be sure to cover the keypad so that people. Around you do not see your pin number as you enter it.

5) Make note of anyone acting suspicious around you.

Any suspicious activity should be reported to the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service at 949-6300.

If you were in the area of the Cambrian Mall yesterday and observed this male or have had a similar incident such as this occur to you contact the Fraud Unit at 949-6300 ext. 388.

No Parking on City Streets

As of midnight tonight we start into the new month of November. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is reminding motorists that as of midnight tonight there is no parking of vehicles on city streets between midnight and 6 am. The parking prohibition by-law starts at midnight on November 1st and runs through to midnight on March 31st, 2007. Persons who disobey this by-law will receive a $15 fine and may have their vehicle towed. If your vehicle is towed you then have the additional cost of the towing and storage fee at the compound. Even when there is not snow the by-law is in effect. Often the weatherman can be wrong with his message and when this occurs officers from the Police Service are kept busy tagging and towing cars to assist the City Board of Works crews in snow removal. So obey the by-law and don’t park on the streets between midnight and 6 am

Police Search House on Korah Road

Yesterday afternoon officers from the Joint Forces Drug Unit, which consists of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, the O.P.P. Drug Enforcement Section, the R.C.M.P. and the O.P.P. North East Region, executed a search warrant at a residence on Korah Road. Officers located a jar of psilocybin (magic mushrooms) as well as a further 6 grams of psilocybin, 1740 grams of marihuana, and 7 morphine tablets. The estimated street value of the narcotics is $1,000. Officers also located a round of ammunition in the residence.

1) 29-year old Jamie Porter (m) of 4-308 Korah Road has been charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance, one count of production of controlled drug or substance, one count of careless storage of ammunition, and two counts of breach of a release order. The accused was on a release order with conditions not to possess any ammunition or prescription drugs. He will appear in bail court this morning.

2) 53-year old Wayne Ferguson of 4-308 Korah Road has been charged with one count of careless storage of ammunition, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance and two counts of possession of a controlled drug or substance. He will appear in court on December 4th.

Three Counts of Breach

A 25-year old male has been charged with three counts of breach of probation and will appear in bail court this morning. It is alleged that the accused contacted his ex-girlfriend and left messages for her on her answering machine. At the time of the offence the accused was on conditions not to communicate with the victim and not to molest, harass or annoy the victim.

Impaired Driving

A 44-year old male was arrested last evening and charged with one count of impaired driving, one count of operate motor vehicle while disqualified-court order, one count of fail to provide breath sample, six counts of breach of a release order, one count of breach of probation and one count of unlawfully in a dwelling house. It is alleged that last evening the accused attended at his ex-girlfriends residence and entered the home uninvited and had a beer bottle with him. At the time the accused was on release conditions not to be at her residence and not to possess alcohol. The victim called police and officers stopped the accused who was driving his vehicle. The accused was taken into custody without incident and will appear in bail court this morning. Due to this incident being a domestic related matter the name of the accused is not being released.

Two Counts of Theft Under $5000

34-year old Roddy Ryan of 324-138 East Street was arrested last evening and charged with two counts of theft under $5,000. It is alleged that on the 30th of October the accused stole some meat from RJ’s Market as well as some butter tarts and chocolate bars from Wardlaw Fuels. The accused will appear in court on December 4th.

Three Houses Egged

There were 3 reports of eggs being thrown last night. Homes on Jean Avenue, Devon Road and Victoria Avenue were hit. In the incident on Victoria Avenue kids were seen leaving the area in a white van.

Break & Enters

1) Yesterday morning a home was entered on Elizabeth Street and a purse was taken from the residence. Homeowners are reminded to keep their doors locked even while in the residence to reduce the chance of an incident such as this occurring.

2) Sometime between the 28th of October and the 30th of October a home on Queen Street West was entered and a 10-speed bike, some Tylenol and some photos were taken.

3) On the 30th of October between 4 pm and 8 pm a home in the 600 block of Second Line West was entered and jewellery was taken.

4) Just before 2:30 am this morning the Money Tree on Trunk Road was broken into. Nothing appears to have been taken.

5) Last evening between 10 am and 11 pm thieves attempted to break into a home on Hampton Road but were not successful.