A crime spree, which included incidents in Wallaceburg, Dresden, Thamesville and Chatham, has led to an arrest.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service provided details about four incidents that took place in the community.
Incident #1: Police say on July 23 at approximately 6:30 a.m. a man was seated within the passenger seat of a white Toyota Venza, bearing a Michigan license plate BPX1480. The man and the driver of the Venza stopped at the intersection of William Street N. and King Street E. in Chatham and allegedly flagged down a pedestrian.
They asked the pedestrian for directions to Walpole Island.
As they were all talking, a man exited the vehicle, allegedly assaulted the pedestrian and then took his tablet valued at approximately $200. The man and the driver fled the area and the pedestrian suffered minor injuries. This incident was reported to police. However, the man and the driver were unknown. Therefore, police reached out to the public, via social media, for help in identifying the two men involved.
Incident #2: Police officials say on July 28 at around 3:30 p.m. the same two men attended the Foodland located at 256 George Street in Dresden. They allegedly exited the store without making any attempt to pay for the items they selected inside the store valued at $110. They departed the area in the same Venza, bearing a Michigan license plate BPX1480. This incident was captured on video surveillance at Foodland.
Incident #3: Police say on the same date at 4:42 p.m. the man from the first incident, who was seated in the passenger seat of the Venza, was captured on video surveillance entering a residence through a window on North River Line in Wallaceburg. Once inside the residence, the man took the following items and then departed the area:
– Nikon D3300 Camera and bag
– Nikon 55-300mm Zoom Lens
– Canon Powershot Camera and case
– Bausch and Lomb Binoculars with adjustable zoom
– Three wooden jewelry boxes consisting of assorted jewelry
The value of these items is estimated at $60,000, police say.
Incident #4: Police say on July 31 at 9:50 a.m. officers responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Alice Street in Thamesville. Upon the officer’s arrival, he observed the white Toyota Venza, bearing a Michigan license plate BLX1480, parked on the side of the street. The man from incidents one, two and three was inside the vehicle. Checks on the vehicle and license plate revealed that both were stolen. The approximate value of the Venza is $20,000 and the license plate is valued under $5,000.
Police say the man was arrested and a search of him was conducted incident to arrest.
Jewelry from the third incident was allegedly located in his possession.
The 33-year-old Chatham man was charged with the following offences:
– Robbery
– Theft Under $5000
– Possession of Property Obtained by a Crime Under $5000 x 2
– Break and Enter Commit Theft Over $5,000
– Possession of Property Obtained by a Crime Over $5,000 x 2
He was transported to Chatham-Kent Police Service Headquarters where he was held for a bail hearing.
The other man involved remains at large.
