NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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ESSA TWP. – The Nottawasaga Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has made an arrest in relation to an ongoing investigation of motor vehicles being targeted by theft in Angus, Essa Township.
In January 2021, the Nottawasaga OPP responded to numerous complaints from community members who had items stolen from their vehicles in Angus, Essa Township. The suspect was rummaging through vehicles overnight that were left unlocked.
As a result of this investigation, 42 year-old Christina Keen, of Essa Township, has been charged with:
- Theft under $5000 - s. 334(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada; and
- Trespassing at night - s. 177 of the Criminal Code of Canada
The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bradford on March 4, 2021.
The Nottawasaga OPP is asking residents in Angus to remain vigilant and report any suspicious people, vehicles or activities to police. Police would like residents to check their security cameras, or dash cameras, for video footage. If you have any information or video surveillance in relation to this investigation, please contact Nottawasaga OPP at 1-888-310-1122
Nottawasaga OPP is reminding the public to take steps to protect themselves and their valuables. Leaving your vehicle unlocked is an invitation for would-be criminals to victimize you. An unlocked vehicle offers the opportunity for theft of the vehicle and/or its contents. An experienced thief can steal a car in as little as 30 seconds. Simply securing your vehicle and placing valuables out of sight makes it more difficult for criminals to victimize you.
The following are helpful tips to prevent theft:
- Ensure your vehicle doors are always locked and in summer months, windows rolled up completely;
- Lock your car when you park it - regardless of where your vehicle is parked - inside your garage or in the driveway;
- Always park in well-lit areas;
- Never leave money or valuables in plain sight;
- Put shopping purchases or valuables in trunk;
- Never leave your spare key or GPS in the vehicle;
- Do not leave your vehicle running while unattended. This is especially common in winter months and should be avoided;
- Don't keep personal documents such as vehicle ownership, insurance slips, credit card invoices, or other documents containing personal information in their vehicles
- Secure your garage - side doors and home entry door must always be locked! Don't forget about the door that leads from your attached garage into your home. Losing power tools and sporting equipment is bad enough, but once a burglar gets access to the rest of your house, you run even greater risks; and •
- Do not keep the "smart" remote keys to your vehicle near the entrances to your residence. Secure them in a shielded signal blocking box, pouch or container to reduce the threat of thieves using the signal to access or steal your vehicle.
For further crime prevention tips, please visit www.opp.ca.
Anyone with information regarding the recent thefts from motor vehicles is asked to contact the Nottawasaga OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). When you contact Crime Stoppers you remain anonymous, you will never have to testify and you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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