Arrests made in northern Ont. seasonal property crime spree

An Ontario Provincial Police vehicle and several police snowmobiles are pictured in this undated winter photo. (File Photo/Ontario Provincial Police/X)

Ontario Provincial Police have arrested two people and recovered a large cache of stolen property, including firearms, following a series of break-and-enters at remote seasonal properties north of Sault Ste. Marie.

A 22-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, both from Reilly Township near Ranger Lake, face a combined 131 charges following a complex investigation and recovery operation in the Peshu Lake area.

Cache of stolen property discovered

The investigation began after police received multiple break-and-enter reports in the Peshu Lake, Aubrey Falls, and Ranger Lake areas, starting as far back as September.

“Suspects stole more than $17,000 worth of property,” officials with Crime Stoppers of Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma District said in a news release in November.

On Dec. 27, the Sault Ste. Marie OPP detachment located an encampment with a large amount of stolen property in a bush area near the intersection of Highway 556 and Highway 129. With assistance from multiple OPP teams and the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service’s canine unit, two people were taken into custody at the scene.

Multiple charges laid

Both accused face a lengthy list of charges:

• 10 counts of theft over $5,000,
• five counts of theft under $5,000,
• nine counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000,
• four counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000,
• 11 counts of breaking, entering a place to commit an indictable offence,
• two counts of breaking and entering a place and stealing a firearm,
• two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose,
• two counts of possession of a firearm, prohibited or restricted weapon obtained by crime,
• three counts of careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition,
• two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm,
• two counts of knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm and
• nine counts of mischief.

The 40-year-old man faces nine additional charges for breach of recognizance and failure to comply with a release order.

Both accused appeared in bail court on Dec. 29 and remain in custody.

The thefts

The break-ins targeted travel trailers and camps in the Root Township, Peshu Lake, Aubrey Falls, and Ranger Lake areas — remote locations north of Thessalon — between early September and December.

Police said the culprits gained entry by prying open doors and entering through screened windows.

“The culprits appeared to be careful when committing the crimes, leaving the trailers looking normal in order to avoid drawing attention after the break-ins,” the OPP said in a November release.

Stolen items included a 12-foot aluminum boat, a 4 hp Johnson outboard motor, two red Honda generators, multiple propane tanks, a solar panel and various tools and camping equipment.

Firearms were also a target. Police reported the theft of a 12-gauge 270 Remington pump-action shotgun, a 12-gauge single-shot Coey shotgun, a .22 Savage semi-automatic rifle and a pellet gun.

The recovery operation

A significant inter-agency effort was required to recover the property. In addition to uniformed OPP officers, members of various OPP teams, including the North East Region emergency response team, snowmobile ATV vessel enforcement team and urban search and rescue/chemical biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives response team were involved. Equipment and personnel were also provided by Batchewana First Nation Police Service, the Goulais Fire Department and Sault Ste. Marie Search and Rescue.

OPP seek additional victims

Police believe there may be more victims and have outstanding recovered property.

“The OPP believes there may be additional victims and have outstanding recovered property,” police said in a news release on Jan. 5.

These people can contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and reference occurrence number E251703515.

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