March is “Fraud Prevention Month” and it’s no coincidence that it is also ‘Tax Season’ in Canada. People are still falling for the scam where they receive a phone call from someone purporting to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)– asking them to provide personal banking information or even asking them to go to their bank to send money to them.
There are even cases where the caller asks the victim to go out and purchase iTunes cards, or Google Play cards and send them on as payment for tax arrears. To most people, this is an obvious example of a scam but to some people, the threat of going to jail for unpaid taxes can be a very scary and intimidating situation. Most people are too embarrassed to report that they fell prey to this type of scam and it’s estimated that only 5% of phone scams are reported.
So, to be clear…
The CRA will never
Also, the CRA never uses text messages or instant messaging such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to communicate with taxpayers under any circumstance. If a taxpayer receives text or instant messages claiming to be from the CRA, they are scams!
If you know someone who may be vulnerable to this type of scam, Crime Stoppers urges you to have a conversation with them – filling them in on the importance of verifying the identity of callers who are trying to separate them from their money. It is very possible that the caller is using one scam or another.
Other scams are known as ‘The Loan Scam’ – the ‘Tech Support Scam’- the ‘Service Scam’ or the ‘Extortion Scam’ but the common denominator is that the victim is being manipulated by an unknown person who has one goal in mind… getting money from them.
Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll free at 1-888-495-8501 if you think you’ve been the victim of one of these scams or if you’d like more information on this topic.
More information can also be found online on the following websites…
http://www.antifraudcentre.ca/index-eng.htm
https://globalnews.ca/news/4907961/cra-phone-scams/
This week, Sarnia-Lambton Crime Stoppers is featuring the continuing OPP investigation investigation into the death of then 14 year old Karen Caughlin.
Lambton OPP continue to seek justice for 14-year-old Karen Lee Ann Caughlin who was found dead exactly 45 years ago.
The Sarnia girl was last seen on March 15, 1974, and her body was discovered at mid-morning the following day near the side of Plowing Match Road, between Churchill Line and LaSalle Line.
Caughlin had been at the “Rose Garden Roller Rink” in Point Edward, and was dropped off at a girlfriend’s house on Brock Street in Sarnia around midnight, but never made it inside.
Police continue to focus on addressing the nine hour gap between the time Karen was last seen and when her body was discovered 22 km away.
In 2017, police revealed science-based information that Karen’s injuries were consistent with being hit by a motor vehicle.
OPP Detective Inspector Chris Avery is again appealing to the public for more information.
“We know there are people who know what happened to Karen Caughlin,” said Avery. “We strongly urge them to come forward to help provide her family and friends with the resolution they deserve. Even 45 years after Karen’s tragic death, any piece of information may be the key to achieving that goal.”
A $50,000 reward for information remains in effect.
Anyone with information should call Lambton OPP at 519-882-1011 or Sarnia-Lambton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Please click on link below to see the 2014 information video by the OPP
Lambton OPP are looking for two suspects who allegedly use a distracted theft technique to steal lottery tickets.
Police said at about 2:30 p.m. on February 4, two men entered a London Line gas station in Plympton-Wyoming.
One allegedly distracted the clerk who left the counter and followed him to the back of the store, while the other removed a box of lottery tickets.
The two men fled in a white Mercedes SUV.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Bruce Laroche, 40, and Thomas Laroche, 37, each of no fixed address.
Police say the two are known to frequent the London area and are currently wanted for similar offences in various counties.
If you have any info on these two contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
OPP INVESTIGATING PHARMACY BREAK IN
Lambton OPP are looking for three suspects after a break-in to a pharmacy on King Street in Forest.
Police were called just before 3 a.m. Tuesday and found the front glass door was smashed.
They say the suspects were only in the building for a short period of time, and nothing of significance was stolen.
The suspects were wearing hooded sweaters, gloves and masks.
Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at 519-882-1011 or Sarnia-Lambton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Theft of Copper Wire on September 26/2018
On Wednesday, September 26, 2018 a male suspect broke into the fenced power transmission compound at the rear of Eastland Plaza at 260 Indian Rd S – at Devine St in Sarnia. This is an outdoor compound which houses dangerous, high voltage equipment. It is protected by cement block walls, a locking wooden gate and barbed wire around the perimeter. There is even a sign reading “Danger! Bluewater Power”.
Surveillance video shows a good profile picture of the suspect working away inside the compound. The suspect managed to remove a section of very heavy cable and another section of slightly lighter cable. This theft was very risky and the copper stolen has considerable value as scrap. Although the cable in the picture is yellow, the stolen cable may not be the same colour.
In the photo, you can see that this was a clean shaven white male wearing a blue and red horizontal striped hoodie, a grey, flat-brimmed ball cap, and dark pants or shorts.
If you have any information about who this suspect may be, please contact Crime Stoppers at 519-332-8477 or the Sarnia Police Service directly at 519-344-8861.
Remember, you can submit your tip anonymously through our website at Crime Stoppers Tip … no name, no court, just cash for your tips!
Make the call that pays!
Sample size of 50 MCM wire (shown in yellow above)
Lambton County OPP is reporting a spree of thefts from parking lots and businesses in the Village of Point Edward.
Over a ten day period they have responded to six calls regarding thefts of bicycles, electronic devices and car batteries.
Residents are reminded to lock their vehicles and remove valuables or hide them from plain view.
Police ask you to report any suspicious activity immediately.
If you have any information regarding the losers committing these thefts you can contact Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to our website sarnialambtoncrimestoppers.org to submit an anonymous tip.
The Sarnia Police Service continues to investigate a homicide that occurred 30 years ago this week.
Morag Davies,a real estate agent and former nurse, was stabbed to death in her Retlaw Drive home in the north end of Sarnia on August 25 1988.Morag was last seen on August 23 1988 and when she failed to show up at work two days later, co-workers attended her residence and found her murdered. The Sarnia Police Service Criminal Investigations Division has worked on this case since it occurred. Last year a detective was assigned to the case fulltime and worked the case until their retirement. The case has since been turned over to Detective Staff Sergeant Leo Murphy.
If you have any information regarding this crime you are asked to contact Sarnia Police or Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. You can also leave a tip online at www.sarnialambtoncrimestoppers.org
Stolen Cargo Trailer
Sometime overnight on July 29-30th, a cargo trailer belonging to Community Living Sarnia-Lambton was stolen from behind their administration building on Exmouth St near Oxford St in Sarnia. The lock on the trailer hitch assembly was cut off and the licence plate was later recovered on East St.
The trailer is seen in this picture being loaded with empty beer cans and bottles as part of a ‘Bottle Drive Fundraiser’ to purchase an Accessible Van for people they support. In fact, the trailer was almost half full at the time it was stolen. The Community Living logo is seen on the side of the trailer but it has likely been removed or covered up by now.
This is a white 5 ft x 10 ft cargo trailer with rear doors and a door on the passenger side. With a value of over $4,000, it will take a lot more fundraising to replace it.
Community Living is a non-governmental organization dedicated to enriching the lives of people with an intellectual and/or other disability and their families and they rely heavily on the generosity of others through fundraising and donations. Their role in our community has far reaching effects throughout Sarnia Lambton.
This isn’t just a theft of a trailer from a local business, it’s a theft from our entire community.
If you have any information about where this trailer is or who is responsible for this disgraceful act, please contact Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) or the Sarnia Police directly.
Somebody knows something about this. Please ‘share’ or ‘like’ Crime Stoppers posts and tweets to get the word out far and wide.
A big “thank you” goes out to Wayne Skinner and Industratech for lending Community Living a replacement trailer to continue the Bottle Drive Fundraiser.
Sarnia-Lambton Crime Stoppers is reaching out for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects responsible for a break and enter that occurred on Thursday, August 2nd, 2018.
At about 2:20 in the afternoon an unknown male removed a screen from a ground level window of a home in the Mayfair Drive / Queen Elizabeth II Public School area of Sarnia. Once inside, the suspect stole a woman’s purse before running out the door and fleeing into the Queen Elizabeth II schoolyard. A witness describes him as being tall, darker skin tone, dark pants, green sweater and a dark backpack.
He then jumped on his bicycle, met up with another male and they both took off on separate bikes. The second guy was wearing shorts and a neon green shirt. He was on a lighter coloured bike.
This break-in happened in the middle of the afternoon and witnesses got a good look at the suspects. Somebody out there knows who these two suspects are. They’ve likely bragged about this theft to a lot of people in the last week or so. Please share or retweet this so we can get the word out and hopefully solve this crime!
If you have any information that may help to identify these thieves, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the Sarnia Police Service directly.
The Sarnia Police Service is currently investigating a serious robbery involving violence with a metal rod and an axe. The offence took place on July 19, 2018 at a motel room in the 1600 block of London Road in Sarnia.
The 29 year old male victim was taken to Bluewater Health with life-threatening injuries. He has since been released from the hospital. The second victim, a 22 year old female was uninjured in the attack.
Two of the three suspects have been arrested and charged with numerous criminal offences including aggravated assault, robbery, and break and enter. Natasha BRENNAN – age 21 and James Allan WHITE – age 33 are in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
The third suspect, Kevin Martin SIMPSON – age 32 years of Corunna is wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for the same violent criminal code charges. See photo below.
If you know where Kevin SIMPSON is or where he can be found, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at Tip Submit or contact the Sarnia Police Service. Do not approach SIMPSON – he should be considered dangerous!
