Arrest made in Port Rowan theft spree
Article content
Senior members of the Norfolk OPP sat in silence April 18, while a Norfolk man took them to task for their apparent inability to corral thieves who were making life difficult for residents and businesses in the Port Rowan area.
Police were aware of the problem and were stalking suspects but could not share that information with the Norfolk Police Services Board.
There has been action on the file since and that was shared with the PSB Wednesday.
“I would like to say that – at the time of (the) deputation – our officers were in the middle of an extensive investigation in regards to events occurring in and around Port Rowan, which we could not comment on at the time,” Insp. Joe Varga of the Norfolk OPP said.
“As a result of that investigation, an arrest has been made, numerous charges laid and – based on information learned – subsequent investigations are being undertaken, which I will not comment on further for operational reasons.”
After Wednesday’s meeting, Varga said the Norfolk OPP will have more to say about the investigation once it is concluded.
Varga also delivered the inspector’s monthly crime report at Wednesday’s meeting. As an aside, he mentioned that Port Rowan and area residents were not imagining the uptick in crime.
The Norfolk OPP investigated 72 break-and-enters between Jan. 1 and April 30. This compares with 53 break-and-enters through the first four months of 2017 and 49 for the corresponding period in 2016.
Varga said the recent crime spree in the Port Rowan area accounted for the spike in break-and-enter complaints.
“I would like to point out that – since Jan. 1 – in relation to investigations within the Port Rowan, Houghton and Charlotteville area, Norfolk officers have made 30 arrests, charged 65 persons and laid over 100 charges,” Varga said.
“Some of these investigations have involved uniformed officers, plain-clothes detectives, and members of a number of provincial specialty services such as forensic identification and regional support teams.”
At the April 18 meeting, the PSB heard that some businesses in the Port Rowan area were thinking of closing because thieves were striking repeatedly and with apparent impunity.
The concerned resident told the PSB that break-and-enters were happening in clusters on the same night, suggesting a certain amount of fearlessness on the part of the perpetrators.
The situation prompted a community meeting at a home in Port Rowan April 12. The crime spree was the sole topic on the agenda.
Twenty people attended that meeting.
Among them was Norfolk Mayor Charlie Luke, who advised the group to make a presentation to the PSB.
Senior officers with the Norfolk OPP have since informed the concerned parties that progress is being made on their problem.
“Based on the numbers the inspector has given us, the residents of Port Rowan have to be pleased with the OPP’s actions,” Luke said.
MSonnenberg@postmedia.com