BRACEBRIDGE - Bracebridge OPP report that they have captured two men in relation to a string of car break-ins on Thursday, Oct. 25.
Officers were contacted by a member of the public 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 reporting that their vehicles had also been entered, and items were missing.
Information was gathered by police, and a possible suspect had been identified, along with a vehicle description. While officers were investigating the thefts, an older red van matching the description provided by the complainant 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 conducted on Lone Pine Drive in Bracebridge. Five occupants were inside the van at the time of the traffic stop. A search of the vehicle was conducted. Multiple items were recovered which were linked to the items reported stolen earlier in the day. Approximately $4,000 in property was recovered, as well as the stolen van.
Subsequently 18-year-old Ryeleigh Barnes of Barrie has been charged with two counts of possession of property and four counts of failure to comply with sentence or dispostion.Barnes was held in custody in Bracebridge awaiting a bail hearing on today, Oct. 26.
Further 22-year-old Preston Daultrey of Penetanguishene has been charged with possesion of property obtained by crime.
Daultrey is to appear in Bracebridge court on December 4, 2012
The investigation is ongoing at this time. Victims of the thefts are being encouraged to contact the investigators for identification and return of their property.