 By Staff
September 25th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
If you rely on email – getting a message like this causes a small panic: until you read the message carefully and note where it came from.
 An email response to this email would have been the beginning of a stream of trouble. Someone wants to tap into who we are and what we do at a serious digital level.
This one will go to our email service provider – they have been warning us about this recently.
Using the internet is like driving a car – you have to keep your eye on the road and pay attention to what is going on around you.
By Staff
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspect(s) responsible for a break-in and theft of cash that was raised at Burlington’s Ribfest over the Labour Day weekend.
 The ribbers didn’t suffer from the robbery -it was Rotary that took the full hit. someone who knew a lot about Rotary knew the cash was kept at the office at night. During the overnight hours on September 1 to September 2, 2019, unknown suspect(s) forced entry to the office of the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore, located at 1455 Lakeshore Road in Burlington.
A large sum of cash was taken. The stolen money was raised by Burlington’s Ribfest and was to be used by the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore to support local community organizations and charities. Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the person(s) responsible.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Halton Regional Police Service Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825 4747 ext. 2316.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
 By Pepper Parr
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The city has been transparent about the more than half a million dollars that got sucked out of an account and sent along to someone it didn’t belong to.
They were a little short on the exact amount that was taken – it was $503,000 – does $3000 make a difference.
Mayor Meed Ward issued another edition of her Newsletter and explained in the following material that will be published in another news media later this week.
“In order to provide transparency and accountability to residents, I asked our staff to provide a public update at the Sept. 11 Audit committee on what we’ve learned and how we’re protecting ourselves. The public report is available online (https://bit.ly/BurlingtonFraudUpdate).
“We learned that a single transaction was made to a falsified bank account as a result of a complex phishing email to City staff requesting to change banking information for an established City vendor.
“Upon learning of the fraudulent payment, the City immediately contacted our financial institution and the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS). A criminal investigation is underway, and as soon as we can share more about that, I will.
“The city also immediately started an internal investigation, which confirmed that our IT system was not compromised, no employees were involved in perpetrating the fraud, and no personal information was stolen or shared. Further, the city made immediate changes to our internal protocols to prevent this in future.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward – would love to get that money back – chances are slim. “I’m confident we know what happened and have made the necessary changes to protect the city. Our goal is to recover the funds and work with police to hold those who did this accountable, so they can’t target anyone else.
We know cyber fraud is a growing area of risk for municipalities, and there have been recent reports of other cities across the country falling victim to a similar scheme that ensnared Burlington. I will be raising this matter with my fellow mayors at the Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario when we meet in November, so we can share our experiences and expertise to protect all our citizens.
“Cyber fraud is also a growing area of risk for organizations and individuals. One way you can protect yourself is to never share financial information online. If you get an email asking for password changes, seeking banking or other financial information, even from an agent you may do business with, call first. I also recommend visiting the HRPS website for some tips for fraud prevention and protection against cybercrime (https://bit.ly/HaltonPoliceFraudPrevention).”
The Gazette has been a consistent advocate for more in the way of public awareness. Some of our readers are getting tired of hearing us say: If in doubt don’t.
A number of years ago the Gazette collaborated with Crime Stoppers, the police and a number of the banks in putting the message directly into the hands of bank customers.
 Each bank that participated was given coupons with their corporate logo. More than 15,000 were distributed.
Bankers were explaining to us that they hear about the frauds after they have taken place – they were looking for a way to warn and advise their customers what to be on the watch for.
We devised a program that had coupons the banks handed out to their customers. Whenever a customer was getting cash from a teller one of the coupons was slipped into the bank notes.
The belief was that people tend not to take the time reading literature – but when they opened their wallets or purses they would come across the coupon and pay more attention.
Did it work? It certainly did. One major bank reported that they got a call from a client that prevented a significant scam from taking place.
An additional part of the program had the banks making a contribution to Crime Stoppers.
By Staff
September 21st, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Can you tell the difference between these pills? Neither can we. One of these is oxycodone, and one is fentanyl, made to look like oxycodone.
 If you have to use the pills – at least know that you are using the right thing. The Halton Regional Police Service and the Halton Region Health Department want to warn the community that counterfeit Oxycocet® (oxycodone) pills containing fentanyl are known to be circulating in the Greater Toronto Area. The pills closely resemble oxycodone pills. The presence of fentanyl in these counterfeit pills increases the risk of overdose among people using them. For context, fentanyl was present in 75 per cent of all opioid-related deaths in Halton Region in 2018.
If you use drugs, or have a friend or family member who uses drugs, these tips may help save a life in the event of an overdose:
Know the signs. An overdose is a medical emergency. Know the signs of an overdose and call 9-1-1 right away:
– difficulty walking, talking, or staying awake
– blue lips or nails
– very small pupils
– cold and clammy skin
– dizziness and confusion
– extreme drowsiness
– choking, gurgling or snoring sounds
– slow, weak or no breathing
– inability to wake up, even when shaken or shouted at
Don’t run. Call 9-1-1. Our frontline officers, and other first responders in Halton, carry naloxone and we want to assist. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides broad legal protections for anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including the person experiencing an overdose. This means citizens, including youth, will not be charged for offences such as simple possession for calling 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Carry naloxone, a drug that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone is available free-of-charge in Halton at:
– Regional Health Clinics (in Acton, Burlington, Georgetown, Milton and Oakville) and Halton Region Needle Exchange Program (Exchange Works)
– Some local pharmacies. To find a pharmacy that distributes naloxone, visit the Ontario government’s Where to get a free naloxone kit web page.
Never use alone. Don’t use drugs alone, and don’t let those around you use alone either. If you overdose when you are alone, there will be no one there to help you. If you are using with someone else, don’t use at the same time.
Go slow. The quality of street drugs is unpredictable. Any drug can be cut with, or contaminated by, other agents or drugs (e.g. fentanyl), which in very small amounts can be harmful or fatal. Know your tolerance and always use a small amount of a drug
 By Staff
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Suzanne Vukosavljevic, Manager of Communications for the city sent out a media release saying: “The City of Burlington is not pursing a by-law related to ticketing drivers giving to panhandlers on Burlington streets.
“On September 10, 2019, a staff report on panhandling went to the Planning & Development Committee for discussion. There is no City staff direction related to targeting and ticketing drivers donating money to panhandlers.
“There was an amended motion put forward at that meeting that was not approved by Burlington City Council; that motion was to report back to the Planning and Development Committee by the end of 2019 on the possibility of a by-law that would target drivers donating money to panhandlers at City intersections.
Here is what actually happened at the Standing Committee meeting:
 The Mayor just asked the question: Could the police issues a distracted driving ticket to someone who gave a pan handler money while they were in their car. The idea of perhaps ticketing car drivers for giving pan handlers money, because they would have been “distracted” from their driving, was a question raised by the Mayor when she asked Staff if they had asked the police if they could issue distracted driving offence tickets. Heather MacDonald, Director of City Building said they did not ask that particular question.
Vukosavljevic, added that: “The actions that were approved by Burlington City Council include:
• The City of Burlington will continue to work with the Halton Poverty Roundtable (which is part of United Way) as part of their broader communication to residents about poverty.
• Update the City’s website to provide information on how residents can assist those in need, including donating money.
• The City will share ways to help via social media and the City Talk newsletter.
• The City will prepare communication material for ward-specific newsletters with information for residents about this issue.
• The City will continue to work with the Halton Regional Police to monitor panhandling on the streets of Burlington.
“Burlington City Council shared their concerns on the well-being of all who need help in Burlington, and was clear through its deliberations that the end goal is to get the most support to those who need it, and that donating to active local charitable organizations is important to ensuring the best results from the community.”
One of the concerns was expressed by ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns who said that the pan handling was a “racket”. Some of these people are “optimizing or using space for their own purposes”.
Mayor Meed Ward added that she had been at the Guelph Line Fairview intersection earlier and had seen pan handlers at the intersection with drivers handing them money.
The media release from the Communications department appears to be trying to put a bit of a spin on a situation that makes some people uncomfortable. It always works better when you let the facts speak for themselves.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Staff
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
On Thursday September 19, 2019 at approximately 5:00 am, a lone male culprit entered a 7/11 convenience store located at Guelph Line and Prospect Street in the City of Burlington.
The culprit was hiding his face by pulling his shirt up and was carrying a large metal pipe. The male culprit confronted the store clerk and demanded money. The clerk provided the culprit an amount of money and he then fled the store. The store clerk was not injured in this incident.
At approximately 5:30 am, a homeowner in the area of Dynes Road and Woodward Avenue in the City of Burlington reported to police that an intruder was on their property. The homeowners became aware that a male person was on top of the roof of their bungalow style single family home. A homeowner came outside and confronted the male person who came down from the roof. The male culprit threatened the homeowner and indicated that he had a weapon.
 Cst Mitchell with police dog Juno being trained. Another police dog was used to track the culprit to a nearby garage. The male culprit then ran off from this residence. The homeowner was not injured in this brief interaction.
Halton Regional Police Service canine officers and uniform officers set up a perimeter in the Dynes Road area. A canine track was commenced which lead officers to a townhouse complex nearby on Dynes Road. At 6:20 am, police located the male culprit hiding in a garage in this townhouse complex and he was arrested without incident. The male culprit had broken into the garage at this location.
Police were able to recover an amount of money and the metal pipe believed to have been used in the original robbery incident. There are no further public safety concerns in this incident.
A male person named Shad Atkin , 31 years old from the City of Burlington is charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
1. Robbery
2. Wearing a disguise to commit a criminal offence
3. Uttering a threat to cause death
4. Trespassing at night
5. Breaking and entering
He will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in the Town of Milton for a bail hearing. Police want to remind the public that the person charged in this incident is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone with information about this robbery incident is asked to contact the Halton Regional Police Service – 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905.825.4747 extension 2323 or 2315 or 2316.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
By Staff
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Between August 21, 2019 and September 11, 2019, there were numerous incidents of thefts of rims and tires from Go station parking lots along the Lakeshore West corridor. In all of the reported incidents, the rims and tires were taken and the vehicle was left on cement blocks.
 On September 18, 2019, members of the Halton Regional Police Service Criminal Investigations Bureau and members of the Tactical Rescue Unit executed a Criminal Code search warrant at the accused residence in the City of Brantford.
Investigators seized a 2004 GMC Yukon utilized by the accused in the commission of these offences.
Police have arrested Kenneth Anderson Davis (29) of Brantford. He has been charged with:
-Theft under $5000 (13 counts)
-Mischief to Property (13 counts)
-Theft of Motor Vehicle (1 count)
-Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (1 count)
-Breach of Probation Order (15 counts)
Davis was held for a bail hearing on September 18, 2019 in Milton.
We thought GO station parking lots were under video surveillance 24/7. Apparently not; makes them very unsafe late at night for people returning to their cars.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Detective Omar Nadim of the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext 2278.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca
 By Pepper Parr
September 10th,2019
BURLINGTON, ON
What do you think about this one?
 Police in Burlington don’t ticket pan handlers – there is nothing illegal about begging for money. The police being able to give you a ticket for pausing to give some money to a pan handler at an intersection.
Mayor Meed Ward said her understanding was that this could be done. The ticket would be for distracted driving where a ticket comes in at as much as $1000.
From the provincial web site:
Most drivers caught, talking, texting, dialing or emailing on a handheld device will be fined up to $1,000 — more than double the current fine. Additional penalties include a three-day licence suspension and three demerit points. And that’s just the beginning. December 31, 2018
 Council didn’t like the idea of signs – but they want to do something about the problem. The idea landed on the table during a discussion of signs directing people to not give money to people pan handling but rather direct those people to agencies that can help.
Council agreed to a recommendation that would make use of City Talk, an insert that appears in a print newspaper and using social media to educate the public.
More on this later in the week.
 By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
There has been a third malicious attack on the Burlington Gazette web site.
Last Friday we published a short opinion piece on the Mayor and the lunch she had with her brother in Oakville while he was in the area.
The Mayor had posted a photograph of the lunch on her Facebook page,
There were a number of comments made by readers, one of which was thought, at the time to have been sent in by the Mayor.
The Mayor did not make the comment nor was the email address used one that the mayor uses. The URL did have the words @cityofBurlington.com which was mistaken as one the city uses.
The Gazette has reached out and apologized to the Mayor. We did not hear from her directly.
While there was nothing journalistically with the piece, it was identified as an opinion and we have removed it from the web site.
Whoever sent the malicious email also managed to replace the proper IP address to an address that was applied to the last several hundred comments the Gazette has received.
We are working on that problem.
An IP address is very useful in determining just where an email came from.
This is the third time the Gazette has been tampered with. The one that took place earlier in the year locked people out of the comments section.
Someone out there thinks their “ox has been gored” and doesn’t want Gazette readers to be able to comment. Forensic investigators are being engaged to get to the bottom of this most recent attack. .
By Staff
September 6th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
In late August 2019, members of the Halton Regional Police Service, Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit (CASA) commenced an investigation after a female victim attended a business located on Harvester Road in Burlington, between Walkers Line and Appleby Line, and was administered a noxious substance and violently sexually assaulted by two male parties.
Accused #1 befriended the victim on Facebook prior to meeting with her, and utilized the name “Sharifulla Mokbel”.
Accused #2 was also active on social media, and is known as “Pena R-One” on Facebook, and “pena619” on Instagram.
The two accused may also be active on other social media platforms.
On September 4, 2019, members of the CASA Unit arrested both accused parties, and held them pending a bail hearing. A second court appearance is scheduled to be held in Milton on September 6, 2019.
Accused #1 – Sharifulla (Sharif) Mokbel (27) of North York has been charged with:
-Sex Assault Cause Bodily Harm
-Administer Noxious Substance
-Gang Sexual Assault
-Sexual Assault
Accused #2- Satlykglylych Gafuri (27) of Toronto has been charged with:
-Gang Sexual Assault
-Sexual Assault
Police believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information regarding this or similar incidents to contact the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit – Detective Sergeant Chris Newcombe at 905-465-8965 or Detective Constable Marla Adams at 905-465-8979.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
People charged with a criminal offence are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
By Staff
September 1st, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Scamming people is a full time job for some people.
They never let up.
You can defeat them by just paying attention.
You don’t cross the street without looking both ways or making sure the light is green – unless of course you’ve glued your eyes to the cell phone.
The cardinal rule is – If in doubt – don’t.
All one had to do with this scam on those who have Pay Pal accounts is to look at the address it came from – that is not a Pay Pal address.
 This would have been sent to tens of thousands of people whose names were bought from some ‘black’ source then used to attempt to trick you. Look at the email address the notice came from set out below – that isn’t Pay Pal.  Always look at the address the email came from. If you don’t recognize it – don’t open the email.
By Staff,
August 28th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
After a chase by police, and several attempts at stealing another vehicle didn’t work, the police found their suspect hiding in some bushes. Fabulous police work.
Just before noon yesterday the Regional police attempted to stop a vehicle whose driver they believed was wanted for several Criminal Code offences. The suspect fled and a brief pursuit was initiated in the area of Queensway Drive in Burlington. Due to the dangerous manner in which the driver was operating the vehicle, the pursuit was terminated by police.
The vehicle was observed again by police in the area of Harvester Road and South Service Road in Burlington. A tire deflation device was deployed, however the driver was able to evade it.
A short time later, the suspect attended a car dealership and attempted to rob an employee of his personal vehicle. This attempt was not successful and the suspect fled in his vehicle once again. The suspect drove the wrong direction onto the Queen Elizabeth Way exit ramp at Walkers Line, and was involved in a minor collision.
The suspect fled the scene of the collision on foot and attended a nearby hotel. The suspect approached an employee of the hotel and demanded their personal vehicle keys. After obtaining the keys, the suspect again fled the scene on foot.
K9 and uniform officers searched the area and after a lengthy track, located the suspect concealed in a bushed area.
Nathan Howes (29) of Brantford is charged with:
-Flight From Police
-Dangerous Operation
-Fail to Comply with Recognizance (x3)
-Robbery (x2)
-Failure to Stop After Accident
Howes was held in custody pending a bail hearing on August 28, 2019 in Milton.
This is the stuff of television shows.
By Staff
August 23, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Homicide detectives with the Halton Regional Police Service have laid charges in relation to a homicide that took place in Burlington on August 21, 2019.
Kenneth SOEDERHUYSEN (57) of Burlington is charged with First Degree Murder.
SOEDERHUYSEN appeared in Milton court yesterday.
The victim has been identified as Laura GRANT (57) of Burlington.
The accused and the victim were married at the time of the incident, and both resided at 2244 No. 2 Side Road where the incident took place.
The police are encouraging anyone with additional information regarding this incident and/or investigation to call the Halton Regional Police Service Homicide Tip Line at 905-825-4776.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
Related news story.
Police investigating a homicide on #2 SideRoad
By Staff
August 21st, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, the Halton Regional Police Service received a call from within a residence at 2244 No. 2 Side Road in Burlington regarding a shooting at that location.
Uniform, K9 and Tactical officers responded to the scene and one male party was quickly taken into custody.
A female was located at the residence with traumatic injuries and in spite of all efforts, was pronounced deceased.
No. 2 Side Road was subsequently closed to traffic and will remain closed between Guelph Line and Cedar Springs Road for several hours. We encourage local residents to continue to avoid the area.
There is no known, ongoing, related threat to public safety.
This incident is being investigated as a homicide. It is believed that the accused and the victim are known to each other.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Halton Regional Police Service Homicide Tip Line at 905-825-4776.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
By Staff
August 20th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service found that working with its media made it possible for residents to be reunited with their stolen property.
On August 16, 2019, a Hamilton resident learned about the recovery results that came out of the arrest the Regional police made on July 4th.
 Much of a currency collection was recovered by police. Investigators in Burlington – 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau were contacted and later reunited the victim with over 95% of the recovered stolen property.
Investigators are currently liaising with Hamilton Police and further charges are pending.
The remaining property can be seen by clicking here:
Anyone who may have additional information concerning this investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Jacques Brunelle of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2334 or the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau general line at 905-825-4747 ext. 2316.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
In the original media release the Halton Regional Police Service advised the public that they had arrested a suspect attempting to gain entry into the Kings Carwash located at 1448 Grahams Lane in Burlington. At the time of the arrest a large quantity of jewelry believed to be stolen was recovered and remains unaccounted for.
Bradley MARK (37) of no fixed address was charged with
• Break and Enter with intent
• Possession of Break in instruments
• Possession of property obtained by Crime
• Fail to comply with probation order
He was held pending a bail hearing.
By Staff
August 19th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
On July 4th 2019, the Halton Regional Police Service arrested a suspect early in July who was attempting to gain entry into the Kings Carwash located at 1448 Grahams Lane in the City of Burlington.
At the time of the arrest a large quantity of jewelry believed to be stolen was recovered and remains unaccounted for.
Arrested:
Bradley MARK (37) of no fixed address
Charges:
• Break and Enter with intent
• Possession of Break in instruments
• Possession of property obtained by Crime
• Fail to comply with probation order
The accused was held pending a bail hearing.
 Classic watch – very valuable. If you are a victim of a residential break in on or prior to July 4th 2019, please click the below link and review the photos on our Flickr account. If you are the rightful owner and can identify any of the property please contact us.
Link to property photos: https://bit.ly/2YyLSEf
Anyone who may have additional information concerning this investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Jacques Brunelle of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2334 or the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau general line at 905-825-4747 ext. 2316.
 A collectable – how many people recognize the brand? Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
People charged with a criminal offence are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
By Staff
August 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON.
The Halton Regional Police would like to thank the public for their assistance following an abduction in Burlington on August 8, 2019. As a result of several tips the Regional Police are able to say that the previously unidentified male who was assaulted and appeared to have been abducted has been located and is in good health. He sustained minor injuries during this altercation that did not require medical attention.
He has declined to assist police and wishes to remain anonymous.
Investigators have located the black Honda Civic believed to be involved. The vehicle has been seized in order that a forensic examination can be completed.
Police are continuing the investigation. This was a targeted incident and police are confident there is no related ongoing risk to public safety. Anyone with information or video is asked to contact Detective Jared McLeod at 905-825-4747, ext. 2385.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
Previous news story.
Police investigating abduction attempt.
By Staff
August 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance following an assault and apparent abduction that took place in the area of the Queensway Drive and Cleta Street (near Guelph Line and Highway 403) in the City of Burlington this afternoon.
On Thursday, August 8, 2019 between 1:45 – 1:50 PM, an unidentified male was walking on the south side of Queensway Drive near Cleta Street when two vehicles (a silver Dodge Caravan, and an older model 2-door black Honda Civic) pulled up and stopped.
One suspect exited the passenger side of the Dodge Caravan and both the driver and passenger exited the Honda and chased an unidentified male onto a residential property on Cleta Drive.
The unidentified male appeared to be assaulted by the three suspects before being put into the van. Evidence suggests that the unidentified male was taken from the area against his will in the silver Dodge Caravan. The silver Dodge Caravan, with the unidentified male inside, was last seen southbound on Cleta Drive towards Glenwood School Drive.
Suspect #1 (Driver of the Silver Dodge Caravan):
No description available, as driver did not exit vehicle
Suspect #2 (Passenger of Silver Dodge Caravan):
Male, white, slim build, no shirt, camo shorts
Suspect #3 (Driver of Black Honda Civic):
Male, white, tan baseball cap, black pants with white stripes down leg, white shoes, white t-shirt
Suspect #4 (Passenger of Black Honda Civic):
Male, white, black track pants, black hoodie with hood up, white high top shoes
Unidentified Male:
Male, white, appears to be in his 30s, dark coloured shorts, black and green t-shirt
At this time, the whereabouts and condition of the male and the four suspects are not known. The Halton Regional Police Service is concerned for the safety and well-being of the unidentified male and would like to speak to anyone, including that male, who can provide information about this incident. If you have information, security camera footage, home surveillance footage, or dash cam video from that area during the timeframe of this interaction, we encourage you to please contact the on-duty Staff Sergeant in Burlington at the earliest opportunity.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
By Pepper Parr
August 8th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a fine Detective Constable in the Halton Regional Police Service who will have become aware of new tools that are now available to police forces in the province.
They allow the police toget more information quickly sothat every effort can be made to find the person who has wandered away from home.
Each day that Detective Constable Joe Barr drives to or from work he is reminded of the case of Helen Robertson who went missing July 5th, 2016.
She was never found. There were bits and pieces of evidence but nothing that gave police the information they needed to successfully find Helen and return her home.
With more than 240,000 Ontario seniors estimated to be living with some form of dementia today, being able to locate seniors in the first 24 hours after they go missing is crucial to saving lives.
Ontario is putting the safety of seniors first by providing police officers with more tools they need to respond quickly and effectively to missing persons investigations.
“Every minute counts when a senior goes missing to help keep them safe. This is another example of how our government is putting seniors and their families first by providing essential front-line services new tools to help find our missing loved ones faster,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “We are protecting what matters most to help seniors live independently in their communities, while also helping to ensure they are safe.”
The Missing Persons Act, proclaimed by the government on July 1, 2019, provides police with three additional tools to use when there is no evidence a crime has been committed. These tools will allow police to:
• Obtain copies of records that may assist in a search;
• Obtain a search warrant to enter a premise to locate a missing person; and
• Make an urgent demand for certain records without a court order.
The Act also includes guidelines on what information police may disclose about a missing person before and after they have been located.
Previously, when a person went missing without evidence of criminal activity, police were limited in the ways they could investigate. With this legislation, police can now respond to missing persons investigations quicker, while balancing concerns for an individual’s privacy.
“Police and family members tell us that the first hours after someone goes missing are the most critical,” said Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General. “That’s why we’re providing our frontline heroes with more tools to quickly find our loved ones.”
Fifty per cent of those who go missing for 24 hours or more risk serious injury or even death.
Sixty per cent of people living with dementia will go missing at some point, often without warning.
There is no requirement to wait 24 hours to report someone missing in Ontario.
Nearly 7,500 people were reported missing in Ontario in 2018.
Most of the media in the western GTA are quick to publish and broadcast information on a missing person. Most of the time they are found before the end of the day or the day after.
Some are never found – and we mourn, terrified that something like this could happen to our loved ones.
Joseph Barr, the Detective that handled the Helen Robertson case knows that he will wonder for the rest of his career what happened and what was that missing piece of information he didn’t have.
 Emits a signal every second 24/7 Since the disappearance of Helen Robertson the Regional Police came up with a service that, if used properly, can be critical in finding someone missing. Project Life Saver was taken to the Regional Police by a parent who has an autistic child. That service is now available to parents in Halton Region. Details in the story linked below.
Related news stories:
Helen Robertson reported missing.
Wallet belonging to missing woman found – nothing else.
Project Life Saver.
By Pepper Parr
August 8th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The best tool any police service has is vigilant residents.
This was the case when a resident let police know they had captured a license plate on their video. With that information the police were able to investigate and arrest six suspects for a series of break and enters that occurred at homes in Oakville and Burlington.
Beginning in July 2019, the HRPS identified an increase in daytime residential break and enters and investigators began compiling evidence in an effort to identify the persons responsible. A Burlington resident assisted police by providing a licence plate which was captured on their home surveillance system. This information helped to identify six suspects.
In most instances, the suspects would knock at the front door of targeted residences to determine whether or not anyone was home. Should there be no answer at the door, suspects attended the rear of the home and gained entry by smashing patio doors. The suspects quickly ransacked the residences and fled in awaiting vehicles.
The entries occurred in the areas of Upper Middle Road and Eighth Line in Oakville, in addition to the area of Guelph Line and South Drive in Burlington.
On August 2, 2019, the HRPS initiated surveillance on the group of suspects who were staying at an Airbnb residence in Mississauga. Officers stopped the suspects and placed them under arrest. A search of the vehicles resulted in the recovery of approximately $250,000 in stolen property.
CHARGED:
1) TAN, Chan (29) of Montreal
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
2) BRITO ROSALES, Kenny (30) of Montreal
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
3) MEJIA GARCIA, Denis Rufino (28) of Montreal
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Break and Enter (3 counts)
4) BARQUERO MORALES, Alex Narcesso (27) of Montreal
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Break and Enter (3 counts)
5) HORTA ZAMORA, Luis Felipe (29) of Montreal
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Break and Enter (3 counts)
• Breach of Recognizance
6) MEJIA OLMOS, Carlos Mauricio (32) of Montreal
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Break and Enter (3 counts)
All six accused were held for bail.
This group is believed to have conducted similar entries in other jurisdictions across the GTA. The Halton Regional Police Service is now liaising with policing partners in efforts to determine what other crimes this group may have committed.
Investigators will be proactively contacting victims in an effort to return recovered property to rightful owners. Any persons who have had a reported break and enter between July 1, 2019, and August 2, 2019, are encouraged to contact police and make arrangements for recovery.
Victims looking to recover lost property and anyone with information regarding these occurrences is asked to contact Detective Constable John McMullan of the 2 District Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-825-4747, ext. 2217.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
People charged with a criminal offence are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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