Five Impaired, Five Too Many
Lambton County OPP and the Sarnia Police arrested and charged a total of 5 people with various Impaired Driving offences within just over a 48 hour period this past weekend. Sarnia Police arrested two drivers on Sunday July 18 and the OPP arrested two on Friday, July 16th and one on Sunday, July 18. This is reckless, thoughtless, irresponsible and avoidable behaviour within today’s society.
Although none these occurrences involved any injuries, there were children in one of the vehicles being operated by one of the impaired drivers. Crashes involving drunk or impaired drivers are one of the leading causes of death in Canada today, according to MADD. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
Plan ahead if you are attending a function where you plan on having a few cocktails. Uber, taxi cabs, a designated driver, calling a friend or staying the night are ways to avoid an encounter with a roadside screening device or a visit to the police station to provide a breath sample.
If you don’t plan ahead for that, plan ahead for a court date and possibility of the loss of your driver’s licence. Plan on the embarrassment in front of your family, friends and co-workers. Plan on forking over a few hundred dollars for someone to defend you on the charges if you choose to go that route. Probably not as cheap an adventure as the day you decided to have those cocktails!
Don’t drink and drive. Think of your safety and the safety of others on the road.
If you see a drunk driver, call 911. If you know of a person who makes a habit of this practice, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477) or go on line at p3tips.com
Thank you to the wonderful committee of Captain Kid Days in Corunna. Our new sign has been erected on St. Clair Parkway southbound, just outside of the lovely community of Corunna. Captain Kid Days committee generously helped to sponsor this wonderful gift and important message to the Sarnia Lambton area. Pictured from left to right are Captain Kid Day Board Members, Geoff Dale, Alicia Woolvett, Ashley Robbins and Brain Daaman. Far right is Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers Board President, Sean Robbins.
If your non-profit organization would like to help us swap out and replace the 25 or more Crime Stopper signs around Sarnia Lambton, please contact us. Your organization’s name will be prominently displayed on the sign.
Today’s “Tip of the Week” is directed to you, the reader or anyone else who is considering using our secure, anonymous Crime Stoppers program. Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers wants to take this opportunity to reassure everyone that all tips, whether submitted online or by phone, are treated in the strictest of confidence and your identity will always remain anonymous.
Our hotline at 1-800-222-(TIPS)8477 is answered 24 hours a day. When calling in your tip, our friendly operator will welcome you to the tip line and ask you a few questions to help you recall as many details as possible which will enhance the value and usefulness of your tip. We will not ask for any of your personal information and we don’t use call display or any other phone tracking service.
For tips submitted online, we use a highly secure online web portal called “P3 Tips” to input and save your tip information in a centralized database (www.p3tips.com)
The online submission method also allows you to upload videos, audio files and photos that can greatly enhance the value, accuracy and usefulness of your tip. We have been receiving some very useful and detailed tips lately and we’d like you to know how to make your tip even better.
For more details on how to make your tip standout and be as valuable as it can, check out our website at www.sarnialambtoncrimestoppers.org
Sometime overnight on Wednesday June 30th, suspect(s) smashed a display window at Silhouettes Boutique located at the corner of Christina St and Cromwell St in downtown Sarnia.
The culprit then damaged the display mannequins as they removed and stole six very high-end wigs from the window display. The mannequins were also damaged in the process and the shattering glass shards ruined a number of other items on display.
Silhouettes Boutique has been serving women of Southwestern Ontario for over 40 years in Sarnia and has been at this Christina St location for the past 10 years. In addition to fashion wear, they provide much needed services for cancer survivors in our area. These wigs range in value from $800 to over $2,500.00
It’s not very often that we hear of wigs being stolen in a break-in and we probably don’t realize how important it is for people to have access to this type of product in our area.
This break-in occurred on the night before Canada Day at a main intersection in a lively downtown area of Sarnia. This theft must have taken a few minutes so somebody should have heard or seen something. Just the idea of someone showing up at home or at a friend’s place with 6 new wigs would bring attention to the thieves.
Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers is urging anyone who may have information about this, or any other crime to call us anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
You could join others in getting paid for what you know. Someone out there has been talking about these stolen wigs or maybe even showing them around.
If you know something – call us! 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)… Or simply submit your tip online through our website.
Sarnia Police Service are looking for wanted fugitive Michael James COOLMAN, age 42 years. He is wanted on an outstanding warrant for robbery with a weapon, forcible confinement, assault and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. The incident occurred on June 13, 2021 at a location on London Line in Sarnia.
COOLMAN also faces two additional charges of Failing to Comply With a Release Order.
COOLMAN’S accomplice, Brennan Erdodi has been arrested.
If you know the whereabouts or location of Michael James COOLMAN please do the right thing and call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or go on line at www.p3tips.com. You will remain anonymous and you could be eligible for a cash reward.
BIKE BANDITS
On June 22, 2021, Sarnia Police began an investigation involving reports of stolen bicycles. These bikes were being stored at an apartment complex located in the 200 block of Front Street in Sarnia. The building had video security cameras and the thieves were captured on surveillance footage.
One male suspect was observed entering the parking garage area. He was wearing beige pants, a black jacket with a hood, running shoes and a white ball cap. This male can be seen cutting the lock off the bike and leaving the area.
A second male is observed on the surveillance camera. This thief is wearing a ball cap and dark clothing. He steals another bike and leaves the area.
A couple of hours later, another male is observed. This guy is wearing dark pants, white Nike shoes and a white and black Aero hoodie. He cut the lock on a mountain bike. A short time later, a fourth person is seen. This person has short dark hair, is wearing blue shorts, a white tee shirt with black sleeves and has on dark shoes. Two bikes are removed.
Four male suspects take 5 bikes in total. The bikes that were taken were:
A man’s CCM Apex Dual suspension mountain bike, dark gray with red brake lines
A woman’s Supercycle with a front basket. Baby blue in colour
A man’s black Diaeora Hybrid with red graphics, a water bottle holder and yellow cell phone holder
There is no description available on the remaining two bikes.
Take a look at the photos. Maybe you know or recognize these bold bandits. You will remain anonymous and you could be eligible for a cash reward.
Give us a call at 1-800-222-TIPS (222-8477) or go on line at www.p3tips.com. Do the right thing!
Crime of the Week
Sometime overnight on June 1, 2021, a thief struck in York Crescent area of Sherwood Village in Sarnia. At least one car was broken into while the owners were asleep.
The thief or thieves rummaged through the console and the glovebox, dumping everything onto the passenger seat.
Stolen from the car was a pair of “Java” brand headphones, a power/charging bank and the victim’s identification including credit and debit cards.
At 2:20 am, the culprits attended at the nearby Mac’s Convenience Store located on the corner of Finch Dr and Wellington Street, using the victim’s credit card to purchase $85.00 worth of merchandise.
A review of the convenience store surveillance video shows a female, without a mask on, using the card stolen credit card.
Check out this surveillance photo and call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) if you know who this person is.
It’s all anonymous and you may be eligible for a cash reward!!
Or head over to our website SUBMIT TIP and leave your tip using the anonymous link. It’s so easy now to provide your information and make money doing it.
Wrapping up Water Safety Week…
In last week’s installment of the A1 Security Crime of the Week, Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers took the opportunity to remind everyone that it was ‘Water Safety Week’, an annual campaign to educate Canadians on how to stay safe around water and prevent drowning incidents.
Every year, approximately 520 Canadians die needlessly in unintentional water-related fatalities. Sadly, a high percentage of these preventable water-related fatalities consist of young children, almost always due to lack of or inadequate supervision.
A record number of backyard pools are being installed in Sarnia and Lambton County and many new pool owners are first-time “pool families”. Owning a pool can be a blessing on these hot and humid days but pool ownership also carries huge responsibilities for the safety of everyone who swims there – including the neighbour kids and any other visitors.
Water Safety Week is a reminder that although safety begins at home, it extends to the beach, the lake, boating, safety equipment and water sports. The OPP continues to patrol our waterways with an eye to enforcement and education.
Operating a boat or watercraft while impaired can lead to serious or even fatal consequences and Crime Stoppers urges you to report “Impaired Boating” incidents for the protection of all.
Learn the rules and recommendations that will help you enjoy a safe summer on the water – in the backyard, at the cottage or at our local beaches…
EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Summer is nearing and once again police will be taking a proactive approach when it comes to the rules of the road as they apply to the popular Canatara Park area. Residents should not have to deal with speeding, loud mufflers and squealing tires. On May 26th and 27th Sarnia Police along with the Ontario Provincial Police laid 19 charges during a two-day enforcement blitz in and around the park roadways .
The area will be monitored regularly. This enforcement will also involve the popular “Cove” beach area at the end of Sandy Lane, behind the apartment buildings. Part of that area belongs to the residents of the Sandy Lane apartments and the property owners have taken extra steps to ensure those residents can enjoy the beach area in a safe and pleasant manner. This includes proper signage regarding trespassing and the installation of video cameras. Police will enforce all laws as it pertains to trespassing and any liquor act violations.
As the Province prepares to lift restrictions in relation to lockdown rules, police services are prepared to continue keeping all of our roadways and all of our public parks safe for pedestrians, cyclists and motorist in the upcoming summer season.
Hit and Run in Point Edward
On April 27, 2021, at approximately 9:50 AM, a gray, four door Volkswagen Passat struck two riding lawn mowers near the intersection of Front and Lite Street in the Village of Point Edward.
These mowers were being operated at the time. Luckily, no one was hurt and there was only minor damage to the vehicles. This could have been a tragic incident. The mowers were owned by the Village.
Witnesses describe the driver of the Volkswagen as a male in his mid 30’s. He appeared to be the only one in the vehicle. The Volkswagen left the crash scene and continued on, eventually turning onto Kendall Street.
If you have any information or details regarding this hit and run collision, please contact Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477) or go on line at www.p3tips.com. You could be eligible for a cash reward.
