Stephen Vance, Staff
Grey County OPP have now charged a total of three individuals with the recent series of break-ins in the Municipality of Meaford.
Police say that 27-year old Katlin Wayne Truen, of the Municipality of Meaford, has been charged with break and enter and possession of stolen property. Additional charges are pending. Truen is in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for February 2, 2016.
Also charged is 23-year old Alyssa Megan McDonald, also of the Municipality of Meaford. She is charged with break and enter and possession of stolen property. She is scheduled to appear in court in Owen Sound on February 4, 2016.
Finally, 19-year old Ryan Nicolas Oswald, of the Municipality of Meaford, is charged with break and enter (10 counts), possession of stolen property (12 counts), possession of a prohibited weapon, and theft under $5,000. He is in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for February 4, 2016.
Police have yet to provide specific details about the charges however, OPP Inspector Michael Guilfoyle while speaking to Meaford’s council on Monday February 1, said that as of today (Feb. 1), a total of 48 criminal charges have been laid against the three individuals, and property that has been seized by police during the investigation is connected to between 30 to 35 break-ins and thefts within the municipality.
While it is unclear which specific incidents the trio has been charged, the rash of break-ins to local businesses began on December 6, and continued into the new year.
Police say that the KJ’s Kitchen Trailer located on Sykes Street North in the Foodland parking lot was forcibly entered overnight on December 6. A cash-box containing $300, $64 in ‘Turkey Bucks’, prescription medication, and some alcohol was stolen.
In the second incident, a storage container located at Alex’s Gas Bar on Sykes Street South was forcibly entered sometime between December 6 and December 8. It did not appear that anything was taken from the storage container.
Two boats stored in dry dock at Richardson’s Boats located on Bayfield Street were entered and the interiors ransacked sometime overnight on December 8.
Later in that same week, two storage trailers located behind Meaford Bowl on Thompson Street were forcibly entered during the night on December 10.
Four storage units at the Meaford Mini Storage located on Susan Street were forcibly entered overnight on December 12.
Grandma Lambe’s Fruit Market located on Highway 26 was forcibly entered overnight on December 12. Change, two donation jars, and an assortment of baked goods were stolen. Some of the baked goods were found tossed around inside and out of the building.
Several cartons of cigarettes and a quantity of VAPUR e-cigarettes, with an estimated total value of $8,100, were stolen in a Christmas Day break-in at Alex’s Gas Bar on Sykes Street. In addition to the theft, property damage was estimated at $1,300.
After a failed break-in attempt on January 10, OPP returned the Bargain Shop retail store located in the Valu-mart plaza twice after security alarms were set off. Between 12:03 a.m. on January 12 and 1:04 a.m. on January 13, police attended two break and enter audible alarms at the Bargain Shop, located on Highway 26 in the Municipality of Meaford. Both times the culprit or culprits forcibly gained entrance into the store taking with them a quantity of electronic devices, primarily tablets and wrist bands.
While the vast majority of recent break-ins occurred at businesses, there have also been some recent residential break-ins.
On the afternoon of Thursday, January 7, police received a report of a break, enter and theft from a residence on Highway 26 in the former Sydenham Township, in which several firearms were stolen. Sometime between Tuesday, January 5 and Thursday, January 7, unknown person(s) forcibly entered the residence and removed a number of items including a gun vault containing four firearms. In addition to the stolen firearms, a large quantity of moose meat and a flat screen television was taken.
On Friday, January 8, police received another report of a break, enter and theft from a residence on Highway 26, west of Grey Road 18 in the Municipality of Meaford, resulting in the theft of a firearm, a Cooey 16 gauge single shot, break action, shotgun with wooden stock. In addition to the shotgun, some appliances, and bundles of laminate flooring were also stolen during the break-in which took place sometime between January 5 and 8.
As the investigation is on-going, Grey County OPP is requesting anyone with information that can assist police to call 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web-tip at www.crimestoppersgb.ca, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
