MOUNT FOREST – Police have charged two people, one from Arthur and another from Mount Forest, in connection with a break-in here last week.
Wellington County OPP officials say officers responded to an active break-in at a vacant residence on Birmingham Street West in Mount Forest on Oct. 29 at about 8:30am.
Ashley Hotchkiss, 33, of Arthur, was charged with break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, entering a premises while prohibited, possession of property obtained by crime and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
She was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Paul Smyth, 49, of Mount Forest, was charged with break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence and two counts of possession of a Schedule 1 substance (methamphetamine and cocaine).
He is to appear in Guelph court on Dec. 5.
Anyone with information about this incident can contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip at csgw.tips.
Identity theft charges
MOUNT FOREST – A Toronto resident has been charged with nine offences following an identity fraud attempt in Mount Forest.
Wellington County OPP officers responded to a local bank on Oct. 28 at 1:15pm.
Police say they received a report “suggesting the accused was attempting to use false documents to open a bank account.”
Sukhvinder Singh, 52, of Toronto, was charged with fraud over $5,000, identity theft, obstructing a peace officer, carrying a forged passport, possession of an identity document and four counts of possession of a forged document.
The accused is to appear in Guelph court on Dec. 5.
Wallet stolen at local golf course
GUELPH/ERAMOSA – Local police are asking for help to identify a suspect involved in a recent theft at a local golf course.
Wellington County OPP officials say they received a call on Oct. 14 at about 8:30pm from a Guelph resident who had their wallet stolen while at a Guelph/Eramosa golf course earlier that day.
“Surveillance footage captured an unidentified suspect removing the wallet from a golf bag before departing the premises in a grey or silver [SUV],” police stated in an Oct. 28 press release.
“The victim later discovered that three unauthorized transactions had been made using their credit card in a foreign country, totaling approximately $10,000.”
Police describe the suspect as a middle-aged caucasian man with an average build and facial hair, wearing a black hat, white shirt with a blue vest, black pants and white shoes.
“The suspect did not have any golf clubs with him,” police stated.
Anyone with information about this incident can contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip at csgw.tips.
Partner violence
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Local police continue to lay intimate partner violence charges across the county.
Those arrested include a 49-year-old from Salem, who was charged with assault in relation to an incident in Centre Wellington on Oct. 31.
“There were no reported injuries as a result of this incident,” police stated in a press release.
The same individual was charged again the next day following “another disturbance at the same address,” police say.
They added that this time, “the victim sustained minor injuries.”
The individual was charged with assault with a weapon, mischief (under $5,000) and two counts of failing to comply with an undertaking.
The accused is to appear in Guelph court at a later date.
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Anyone with information about any of the above incidents can contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip at csgw.tips. Tip providers may be eligible for a cash reward.
