HOWICK – Huron County OPP credit to a citizen’s call about some suspicious activity in Wroxeter with helping police recover some stolen property.
Shortly before 8 a.m. on July 17, police received a call about some suspicious activity and vehicles around a property located on Centre Street. Huron OPP officers arrived a short time later, finding a suspect at the scene with a pickup truck, mini-excavator and a trailer loaded with scrap wire.
Police say initial checks didn’t reveal the property was stolen. However, further investigation and assistance from the Insurance Bureau of Canada police confirmed the vehicles were indeed stolen.
The investigation led to the recovery of a mini-excavator stolen from North Huron, a pickup truck stolen from Leeds-Lansdowne Township and a trailer loaded with approximately $7,000 in scrap wire.
On Aug. 1, police arrested the accused without incident in Wingham.
Charged is Dale Southard, 34, from Ripley. He has been charged with three counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and altering/destroying/removing a vehicle identification number.
The accused has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for Sept. 20 in Goderich.
