February 26, 2016
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OPP INVESTIGATING BREAK-IN AT LAUNDROMAT
(GODERICH, ON) - Huron County OPP officers are currently investigating a break, enter and theft that took place this week at a laundromat on Hamilton Street in Goderich.
Just after 4:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24, police were called to the scene after the owner discovered damage to a change machine located inside the building.
Investigators believe sometime overnight a suspect entered the building, located a change machine and proceeded to pry open the coin dispenser. A large quantity of loonies and quarters was stolen from the machine.
ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON AND DRUG POSSESSION CHARGES LAID
(GODERICH and CENTRAL HURON) – A 47-year-old Central Huron man is facing four criminal charges, following an incident that took place earlier this week.
Shortly before 6 p.m., Feb. 20, Huron County OPP officers received a call from a motorist who reported while he was driving southbound on Huron Road in Goderich, he observed a passenger in a nearby vehicle threaten him with a knife. The victim was able to get a description of both the suspect and the suspect vehicle. Officers responded to the area to investigate and were able to locate the suspect vehicle parked at a shopping plaza just east of Goderich.
Officers found the driver and the passenger from the suspect vehicle. Both were placed under investigative detention and a search for weapons was conducted. Officers subsequently found the passenger to be carrying a knife and a quantity of suspected Oxycodone tablets. The male passenger was then placed under arrest and a further search of the vehicle was conducted. A backpack containing a quantity of methamphetamine was found inside the vehicle.
As a result, 47-year-old Randy KOSTUIK has been charged with the following offences:
Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purposes of Trafficking
Possession of a Schedule I Substance
Assault with a Weapon
He has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for March 14, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.
*THESE CHARGES HAVE YET TO BE PROVEN IN COURT*
SCAM ALERT - CANADA REVENUE TAX SCAM
(HURON COUNTY, ON) – The Huron County OPP reminds residents that scammers have been very active throughout the region, using what's known as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax scam.
This particular scam tends to peak around tax season and now that many of us are in the midst of filing our tax returns, we are experiencing a rise in this particular scam.
This week, the Huron County OPP has received several calls from residents, reporting fraudsters have been trying to impersonate CRA employees in an effort to pull off the scam. Generally, there are two common variations to the scam.
Variation 1 - The scammer will inform you by E-mail or phone that you are entitled to a tax refund or benefit payment. In order to receive the payment, you must provide personal information such as your social insurance number, credit card number, bank account number, or passport number.
Variation 2 – The scammer will call you or send you an E-mail message informing you that you owe back taxes as a result of an audit. The scammer will often use threatening or coercive language to scare you into paying a fictitious debt to the CRA. Threats made by the scammers, indicating that you will be arrested, deported or a lien placed on your home or vehicle, are commonly used.
Protect yourself and beware of this scam. Here are some tips to avoid becoming the next victim.
Do not take immediate action. Verify that what you are being told is the truth.
Ask yourself why the CRA would be asking for personal information over the phone or E-mail that the agency likely already has on file for you as a taxpayer.
Contact the CRA to confirm that you owe back taxes or are entitled to a refund, before providing any personal or banking information.
Be careful of fake CRA websites where the taxpayer is asked to provide personal information.
Remember the CRA will not request payments by prepaid credit cards.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, contact your local police service or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Any person with information regarding this incident should immediately contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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