Weekly Media Release – July 27, 2020 to August 2, 2020

8 –  Emergency 911 Calls
10 –  Alarm
1 – Assault Complaint
6 – Assist Ambulance
1 – Assist Other Police Service
9 –  By-Law Complaints
51 – Directed Patrols
1 – Domestic Dispute
6 –  Driving & Traffic Complaints
2 – Family Disputes
3 – Frauds
4 – Impaired Driving Complaints
4 – Mental Health Act
6 – Mischief Complaints
6 – Motor Vehicle Collisions
26  – Property Checks
10 – Suspicious Activity
10 – Thefts
72 – Traffic Stops & Vehicle Checks
8 – Wellness Checks
3 – COVID-19 related calls
July 27, 2020
Theft from Motor Vehicles
On the night of the July 26th, unknown culprits damaged several vehicles and stole items from them in the 200 and 400 blocks of Jolly and Jewel Street. The vehicle owners contacted police in the morning when the criminal offences were discovered.  All the vehicles were unlocked, except for one causing its driver’s side window to be smashed. Mostly cash was taken and wallets were left behind with all identification. There was only one vehicle where a wallet was taken as well with the cash. 
We would like to remind you to lock your vehicles as a part of your nightly routine.  If you have any information with regards to these incidents please contact the LaSalle Police Service at 519 969-5210.
Mischief to Motor Vehicles
A resident in the 400 block of Jewel Street noticed one of their vehicles to have their tire slashed with no other vehicles in the driveway being affected.
Another resident in the 200 block of Jolly Street found their driver’s side window on his brand new vehicle to have a spider-webbed cracked appearance, due to someone or something striking the window. There was nothing on the ground or the immediate area around the vehicle that could explain where the damage came from.
With these occurrences, the officers canvassed the surrounding neighbours yielding negative results from anyone seeing or hearing anything suspicious.
 If you have any information with regards to this incident please contact the LaSalle Police Service at 519 969-5210.

July 29th
Just after midnight on Wednesday July 29th, 2020 officers from LaSalle Police were detailed to the 3000 block of Donato Drive for a report of a suspicious person. Information from the reporting person stated that an individual was observed on his Ring camera walking across the front of his door from west to east.  An officer arrived on scene a few minutes later and spoke with the reporting person. The reporting person observed a male wearing black pants and a green sweater with a back pack.  They also called their neighbour to the east and was advised that their camera did not pick up anything. The officer viewed the video and learned that it had occurred at 23:58 hours on Tuesday July 28, 2020.  The officer checked the east side of the residence and located shoe marks in the grass that went south towards Seven Lakes.
The officers checked the rear yards of the residences and then the immediate area with the cruisers.  A motorcycle was located on Maximus Street with a red helmet hanging on the rear of the motorcycle.  Police remained in the area to keep watch and the officer observed a motorcycle turn right from Maximus onto Donato to travel east bound.  As the rider approached the stop sign at Meo, the officer observed the rider to be wearing a red helmet, green camouflage sweater and black jogging pants. The officer followed the motorcycle southbound on Huron Church and made an attempt at a traffic stop but the motorcycle was travelling at a high rate of speed. The officer stopped his vehicle and then observed the motorcycle turn down a dead end street. There were now 3 officers in the area, one blocking the dead end street and the others travelling on Broderick to stop him on the opposite side as he was now observed travelling through the field. Officers exited their vehicle and began their search on foot as the motorcycle was located near the roadway. The accused was ultimately located and place under arrest for trespass at night, flight from police and dangerous driving, and was read his rights to counsel and legal aid. The accused and his property were searched upon arrest and multiple items indicating entering vehicles were located along with a tool that is hammer looking with a point on the end.  This is an instrument that is used for breaking windows and is considered a breaking and entering tool. The accused was charged criminally with mischief under, theft under, possession under, trespass at night, and flight from police.
Thanks to technology and an aware resident for contacting police immediately.
July 30th
Fraud: Mega Millions Winner
An officer spoke with a resident and her son in regards to a male who had been contacting them via telephone. At first, the caller stated that he was an employee from MEGA MILLIONS. He stated that she had just won a brand new 2020 Mercedes Benz and $200,000 in cash that would be delivered in the near future. In the last few months, the residents’ son stayed in contact with a male who identified himself as “JAMES COOPER”. The woman noticed money being deposited and withdrawn from her TD Canada Trust accounts but lost track of how much she was losing. On today’s date, the woman began to grow suspicious of the circumstances and contacted police after her son received a call from a male identifying himself as “JOSEPH BAKER”. “Joseph” told him to deposit $1,200.00 dollars to them. After the son replied that he wasn’t going to, the employee responded with “You and your mother will be sorry.”
The investigating officer spoke with TD Bank; and learned they were already aware of what was happening. The officer was advised that the account holder had been transferring funds to multiple accounts with different denominations; as well as deposits were coming in and instructions on how to transfer the money.
Beginning in early June, 2020 until now, the total money the individual has lost is approximately $32,000.
The accounts have been flagged and frozen and the Fraud Department at TD Bank have started looking into this. TransUnion and Equifax information was provided. Advise was given to the resident and her son stating to block any numbers associated with the males and to cease communication with individuals’ who identify themselves as being associated with Mega Millions.
This investigation is continuing with TD Bank and LaSalle Police Service.
July 31st
Residential Alarm
Police attended a residential alarm St. Francis.  When the officers arrived, some neighbours who were outside were inquiring what was going on; the officers asked them if they had seen anyone around the house because the alarm was triggered. They didn’t see anything. When an officer then approached the rear sliding door it was found to be broken and the door was shut but unlocked. The house was cleared and the homeowner contacted and notified of the event. This revealed information that the glass was from a previous accident and they must have left the rear door unlocked accidentally.
August 1st
Suspicious Circumstances
In the very early hours of the morning police were dispatched to a drive thru ATM located in the town.  A caller advised that he had observed a white vehicle with it’s trunk open backed up to the ATM.  When Police arrived the while vehicle had already left.  A short while after receiving the initial call police received a second call from an employee of the bank who stated that an alert was received stating that the ATM had been damaged.  The employee accessed the surveillance footage at the ATM and saw that a person had attempted to retrieve the card with tools causing damage to the ATM card reader.  Please be advised that if your card gets taken by the ATM the proper process is to contact the bank and not attempt to retrieve it yourself; this only causes more damage to the machine.