Police beat: Stolen boat motor

CENTRE WELLINGTON – A Waterloo man has been charged with theft after a boat motor was stolen from a business here last week.

Wellington County OPP officials say police responded to a theft on March 9 at about 3:45am at a business on Wellington Road 18 in Centre Wellington.

Police say a 20-horsepower motor was stolen.

Howard Francis Holden, 53, of Waterloo, was charged with break and enter to commit an indictable offence, mischief over $5,000, theft over $5,000 and possession property obtained by crime over $5,000. 

He is to appear in Guelph court on May 2.

“The motor was recovered,” 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 www.csgw.tips.

Fraudulent purchases

ARTHUR – Police are investigating a fraud from a business on George Street here late last year.

Wellington County OPP officials say two people “fraudulently used credit cards to purchase over $800 in product from the retailer” on Dec. 21 and 22.

The first suspect is described as a heavy-set white man with short, dark hair and beard. 

The second suspect is described as a heavy-set white woman with long dark hair.

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 www.csgw.tips.

SUV hits house

PUSLINCH – On March 7 at about 11:30am, emergency crews responded to a serious vehicle collision on Rozell Road here.

Wellington County OPP officials say a blue SUV “left the roadway and struck a home.”

A 69-year-old Cambridge driver was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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 www.csgw.tips.

Multiple charges

FERGUS – On Feb. 26 at about 2:30pm, a Wellington County OPP officer stopped a passenger vehicle on Bridge Street here after allegedly observing “multiple” driving infractions.

A 41-year-old from Fergus was charged with driving while suspended, driving with a handheld communication device, failing to properly wear a seatbelt, failing to surrender a permit and driving without a validated permit. 

The driver is to appear in  Guelph court on May 17. 

All OPP cruisers now equipped with  cameras, plate recognition

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The local detachment of the OPP has now installed and activated automated licence plate recognition (ALPR) and in-car camera systems in all its patrol vehicles.

“These technologies will be used to gather enhanced evidence to be used in the prosecution of offences,” states a March 14 press release from the OPP.

Police say the new systems will provide “an objective video recording of an interaction between an officer and member of the public,” and also “dramatically enhance the ability of an officer to detect licence plates that are linked with criminal or traffic offences.”

Examples include plates associated with “wanted or missing people, stolen vehicles, stolen or unattached licence plates, suspended and prohibited drivers and with other emergent situations like Amber Alerts,” police added.