January 13, 2016
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THIEVES CAUGHT IN THE ACT
(ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH, ON) – A man and woman remain in custody following a foot pursuit that took place last week near Kintail.
At about 10:15 a.m. Jan. 7, Huron County OPP officers responded to a call of a break-and-enter in progress at a property located on Belfast Road. The owner of the property encountered two suspects searching through his storage shed in an effort to steal items. The owner directed them out of the shed and they immediately took off in a Ford pickup truck heading eastbound.
Officers converged on the area and within minutes a Huron OPP officer spotted the two suspects at another small storage shed on Belfast Road. The woman gave herself up, but the man took off running from the officer. A short foot pursuit ensued and the man was apprehended.
Officers located the get-away vehicle, a Ford pick-up truck, inside the storage shed. Upon further investigation, officers confirmed the vehicle had been stolen from a business located in Kitchener. Upon searching the stolen truck, officers located break-in tools and various stolen items packed inside the vehicle.
The female suspect provided a false name to officers when she was first taken into custody. Upon searching the female incident to arrest, officers located photo identification that indicated she was lying about her identity. Officers also found her to be in possession of various illegal drugs and drug-trafficking items.
Upon processing the male suspect, it was learned he was currently failing to abide by conditions of his court release.
Michal MIODUSZEWSKI, 35, of Waterloo has been charged with:
Break, Enter a Place with Intent to Commit Indictable Offence (2) counts
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5,000
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Under $5,000
Possession of Break-In Instruments
Breach of Recognizance (2) counts
He remains in custody with a court appearance scheduled for Jan/ 14. at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.
Krista STROBBE, 25, of Erin has been charged with:
Break, Enter a Place with Intent to Commit Indictable Offence (2) counts
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5,000
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Under $5,000
Possession of Break-In Instruments
Possession of Schedule I Substance for the Purposes of Trafficking (3) counts
Obstruct Peace Officer
Fail to Comply with Probation Order.
She remains in custody with a court appearance scheduled for Jan. 14, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.
BEWARE OF THE TAX SCAM
(HURON COUNTY, ON) – The Huron County OPP reminds residents, once again, to be aware of an active telephone tax scam that has duped several victims throughout the region. Just last week, a Goderich resident fell victim to this scam and now she is out $4,680.
The victim received a call from a man who claimed he was working for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The fraudster advised the victim that she was guilty of tax evasion and owed $4,800. She was warned that if she did not take care of the back taxes, she would be arrested. The victim was instructed to pay the back taxes by sending the money through a money transfer service. The victim followed the caller’s instructions and sent $4,500 to the scammer. She also incurred a service charge for using the money transfer service.
Shortly thereafter, the fraudster called back to advise the victim the “Judge” did not accept the payment and now they needed her to send in a certified cheque for another $5,000. When the victim refused, the caller told her they had an arrest warrant for her and that they would be at her house the next day to arrest her. At this point, the victim spoke to a family member about the calls she had received. She then contacted police.
The tax scam will often involve the use of threatening, aggressive and forceful language to scare victims into paying a fictitious debt owed to the CRA. Victims often report they were threatened with court charges, arrests, deportation and jail time.
Another version of this scam involves the scammer telling the victim that he/she stands to receive a payment from the CRA for taxes owed. In order to receive the refund, he/she must provide personal information such as a bank account number or a credit card number.
These types of calls are designed to create anxiety and shock for the unsuspecting resident. These feelings may lead victims to take action before thinking things through.
The Huron OPP and the CRA provide the following tips to keep residents safe from this scam:
Do not take immediate action. Verify that what you are being told is the truth.
Ask yourself, why would the CRA be asking for personal information over the phone or in an E-mail when it has that information on file for you as a taxpayer.
Contact the CRA to confirm that you, in fact, owe back taxes, or are entitled to a refund, before sending any personal information or banking information.
Never wire money to someone you do not personally know.
Hang up the phone if you get such a call and contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to report the matter.
For more information with regards to the security of taxpayer information and other examples of fraudulent communications, visit www.cra.gc.ca/security.
To learn more about this fraud and many others, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through http://www.antifraudcentre.ca
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