ORILLIA, ONTARIO) Following a 6 month long investigation, two males have now been charged in relation to 12 break and enter incidents which took place between the 4th of May and the 20th of June 2013 in several jurisdictions in the Province of Ontario.
The lengthy and very detailed investigation which lead to the arrests included members of the Collingwood and The Blue Mountains OPP, Bracebridge OPP, Nottawasaga OPP, Huronia West OPP, Haliburton Highlands OPP, Orillia OPP, OPP Regional Support Team (RST), OPP Crime Intelligence, OPP Analysts, Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), Timmins Police Service and South Simcoe Police Service.
Charged are 27 year-old Steven FORBES of Orillia and 25 year-old John STRACHAN of Innisfil. They are both facing charges of break and enter – commit indictable offence (9 counts per accused), break and enter -with intent to commit indictable offence (3 counts per accused), possession of break and enter instruments and possession of property obtained by crime under $5000.
The items stolen included all-terrain vehicles and various landscaping/construction equipment such as chainsaws, augers, leaf blowers, plate compactor, gas trimmers, sod cutters, aerators, tillers and power rakes. In total, approximately $350,000 worth of items were stolen which remain outstanding however police investigation is continuing.