A Sarnia man is facing 25 charges in connection to a string of break-ins reported in the Bright's Grove area, while city police look for a second suspect.
The Sarnia Police Service (SPS) launched an investigation into a series of crimes on March 8, which included the theft of various items such as construction equipment, an automobile, and a motorcycle.
Police said one of the suspects, a 32-year-old man, was arrested on March 16 and held for a bail hearing.
He faces the following charges:
- Possession of property obtained by crime (12 counts)
- Mischief over $5,000 (three counts)
- Theft of a motor vehicle (two counts)
- Break and enter – commit an indictable offence, (eight counts)
An arrest warrant has been issued for a second person.
City police said stolen items have been returned to the rightful owners.
Meanwhile, police have noted a concerning trend regarding the number of break and enters.
So far this year, 89 break-ins have been reported to the SPS, which is a 51 per cent increase compared to the same time period last year.
Police have released a list of prevention tips:
- Report suspicious or unusual behaviour of people or vehicles to police as soon as possible. Details and licence plate numbers are always helpful.
- Ensure that your buildings and properties are secure (e.g. fencing, locks)
- Install adequate lighting around the site to illuminate dark areas during the night.
- Deploy surveillance cameras strategically throughout the site, focusing on entry points, material storage areas, and high-value equipment.
- Install alarm systems that trigger alerts in case of unauthorized entry or suspicious activity.
- Store valuable equipment in locked containers or designated areas when not in use.
- Know how to identify your property (e.g. serial numbers or other unique identifiers).
- Equip high value items with tracking devices for speedy location.
