Break and Enter

On December 23, 2021 at about 1:30PM, the Brockville Police Service received a complaint of a break and enter at an address on Water St. The incident was observed by a witness and the suspect was believed to be in the area. Officers arrived and did locate the suspect close by. The suspect was identified and is known to be a 40-year-old male. He was placed under arrest for the break and enter. It was found that some of the items he was attempting to steal included a tool bench, lawn mower, extension ladder, medical chair, propane tanks and multiple power tools. Once arrested, the male was found to be in possession of a substance believed to be fentanyl. While it may have been a smaller amount, this drug is extremely dangerous and small amount can easily cause harm. Once the investigation was complete, the male subject was released on an undertaking with a court date for the offences of break and enter, fail to comply with probation and possession of fentanyl.  

Scams and Fraud

The Brockville Police Service would like to inform the community to be aware of scams and potential frauds this holiday season. Moving forward into the New Year, various scams become more frequent during the income tax period as well. Please be aware and protect yourself. 

First and foremost, there is no consumer protection when buying/selling products on sites like Kijiji, Craigslist, and Facebook Market Place. There is inherent risk to these types of transactions and is a ‘buyer beware’ situation. Once you enter into an agreement to purchase an item and a product/service is obtained, it is incumbent on you, either as a seller or buyer, to ensure that the transaction is complete. If not, this is a risk that is assumed by you.

As a purchaser/seller of goods you have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to avoid becoming the victim of a fraud. These include but are not limited to;

– Meeting in-person in a public location and thoroughly inspecting the product prior to offering to buy.

– Not purchasing a product without seeing first. Most importantly; this would include payment of first and last month’s rent without attending the property first.

– As a seller, that you do not accept cheques sent in the mail as payment. Cheques are becoming a frequent method and source of fraud.

– As a buyer, never send an e-transfer to an unknown individual.

– If a deal is too good to be true, then it most likely is. Use common sense to protect yourself from people who want to take advantage of you.

For more information regarding common scams, please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.