Bracebridge OPP reports that they have captured two men in relation to a string of car break-ins on Thursday, Oct. 25.
Officers were contacted by a person who reported that their vehicle had been entered sometime overnight, and told police that some items from inside the car were missing. An investigation into the theft was started, and it did not take long for more victims in the residential area of Front Street, Richard Street, Woodchester Avenue and Woodward Street to come forward to report that their vehicles had also been entered and that items were missing.
Information was gathered by police and a possible suspect was identified, along with a vehicle description. While officers were investigating the thefts, an older red van matching the description provided by one of the complainants was observed by police in the north end of Bracebridge.
Police followed the suspicious vehicle, and it was determined by police investigation that the van had been reported stolen from the Barrie area. A vehicle stop was then conducted on Lone Pine Drive in Bracebridge, and police found five people inside it. Upon searching the vehicle, police found about $4,000 worth of items that officers linked to items reported stolen earlier in the day.
Police have charged 18-year-old Ryeleigh Barnes of Barrie with two counts of possession of stolen property and four counts of failure to comply with sentence or disposition. Barnes appeared in Bracebridge court for a bail hearing on Friday, Oct. 26.
Another co-accused, 22-year-old Preston Daultrey of Penetanguishene, was also arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime.
Daultrey is to appear in Bracebridge court on Dec. 4.
The investigation is ongoing at this time. Victims of the thefts are being encouraged to contact police at 705-645-2211 for identification and return of their property.