Caledon OPP are taking graffiti seriously

Caledon OPP officers responded to one fatality, 22 property damage and five personal injury collisions during the week of June 25 to July 2.

High Miler

of the Week

Sunday, July 1 at about 9:30 p.m., a Caledon OPP officer observed a motor vehicle travelling at an extreme high rate of speed on Highway 9 near Airport Road in Caledon. Joshua Kuschmierz, 22, of Adjala Township, was charged with Speeding-147 kilometres per hour in an 80-km-h posted zone. Court date for the 67- km-h over charge is set for Sept. 13.

Alcohol & Driving

Thursday, June 28, a traffic stop on Highway 9 near Rolling Hills Drive resulted in a criminal charge for the driver, 58-year-old Allan Lewis of Orangeville. Lewis will appear in court Aug. 9, charged with Drive Motor Vehicle-Over 80 mgs. Of Alcohol in 100 mls. Of Blood.

Saturday, June 30, a vehicle stop on Highway 10 near King Street for a Highway Traffic Act offence resulted in a criminal charge for the driver. Lloyd Nicholson, 55, of Mississauga, was charged with Drive Motor Vehicle- Over 80 mgs. Of Alcohol in 100 mls. Of Blood. A court date was set for Aug. 2.

Sunday, July 1, a vehicle stopped for a RIDE spot check at King Street and Caledon-King Townline resulted in charges for the driver. Paul Kelly, 54, of Schomberg, was charged with Drive Motor Vehicle- Over 80 mgs. Of Alcohol in 100 mls. Of Blood and Drive Motor Vehicle with Open Container of Liquor. A court date of Aug. 16 was set.

Break & Enter

Monday, June 25, a shed located on a McLaughlin Road property was entered during the night hours. A trailer loaded with a lawn mower and other lawn care tools were stolen.

Friday, June 29, a business on Queensgate Boulevard in Bolton was entered during the night hours by smashing of the front door. Clothing and jewellery were stolen from the business.

Sunday, July 1, a Castlederg Sideroad residence was entered during the afternoon hours on Saturday. Three watches were identified as stolen from the home.

Drugs

Tuesday, June 26, 19- year-old Timothy Neto of Brampton, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana following a police investigation at George Crescent and Innis Lake Road in Caledon.

Mischief

Tuesday, June 26, two school portables on Ellwood Drive in Bolton were damaged sometime overnight. Windows were smashed and doorknobs were damaged. A school on Landsbridge Street in Bolton was also damaged during the night hours. School administrators report that two portables at their location had been entered.

Wednesday, June 27, a window of a car parked overnight off of Main Street in Alton was smashed.

Wednesday, June 27, a car tire was slashed while the vehicle was parked overnight in the driveway of a Snowberry Court residence in Caledon village.

Recovered Vehicles

Monday, June 25, a backhoe that had been previously stolen from the Brampton area was recovered on Healey Road in Bolton.

Theft

Monday, June 25, power tools were reported stolen from a business property on Caledon-King Town Line. The tools were stolen from a workshop and the theft is believed to have occurred sometime over the prior weekend.

Tuesday, June 26, a parked vehicle was entered during the night hours. Cash was reported stolen from the car which was parked at a residential driveway on Heart Lake Road.

Wednesday, June 27, a vehicle parked in a Duffy's Lane driveway was entered during the daytime hours. A laptop and personal cheques were reported stolen.

Thursday, June 28, four Weedeaters were reported stolen from the back of a pickup truck sometime overnight. The truck had been parked in a secure gated yard off Regional Road 50 in Caledon at the time of the theft. Also reported to police were damages that were caused to the truck's ignition.

Sunday, July 1, an unlocked vehicle parked on Jolley Court was entered overnight. Sunglasses have been reported stolen. Another unlocked vehicle on Smith Court was also entered. Keys, sunglasses and a video were reported as stolen.

Criminal Charges

Wednesday, June 27, a work-related disagreement at a business located on Healey Road in Bolton led to an alleged false claim of assault. Amrik Singh, 48, of Mississauga, was charged with the criminal offence of Public Mischief. He will appear in court July 26.

Thursday, June 28, as a result of a vehicle stop for traffic enforcement on Regional Road 50 near Patterson Sideroad, two men were charged. Zeljko Horvat, 47, of Caledon, and 25-year-old John Raso of Caledon, were both charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime. They were found in possession of possible break-in tools as well as a stolen licence plate and validation tag. Court date was set for Aug. 2.

Graffiti

Caledon OPP officers received and are investigating several reports of mischief over the past several weeks. The reports involve graffiti being placed on many locations throughout Caledon. Complaints have come in from many different areas across Caledon, however, business owners in the industrial area, particularly on Hardwick Road in Bolton are the latest to complain to police about this growing concern. This act of vandalism is not only a nuisance to business and residential owners, but also an expensive undertaking to clean up.

A community as a whole is hurt by this act of vandalism in the following ways:

- Graffiti sends the signal that nobody cares.

- Graffiti drains tax dollars and is a costly clean-up task for property owners who are victimized.

- Graffiti decreases a resident's feeling of safety.

- Neighbourhoods with graffiti see a decrease in property values and loss of business growth.

What should you look for as a parent?

* Black permanent markers or a collection of spray cans and nozzles often kept in a backpack.

* Piece books (where graffiti ideas are sketched and practised).

* Spray paint residue on fingers and clothes, particularly after regular dawn or dusk outings with friends.

* An interest in graffiti magazines and videos.

Police would like property owners to report any acts of graffiti. A police report will be filed with photos and similar types of graffiti will be linked. Report any suspicious activity of persons or vehicles observed in business areas after business hours.

Call OPP Communications Centre to dispatch officers at 1-888- 310-1122.

Caledon OPP officers are also considering enforcing a seldom-used section of the Child and Family Services Act, which imposes a midnight to 6 a.m. curfew on kids under the age of 16, unless a parent-approved adult accompanies them. Under this legislation, children would be apprehended and a call placed to their parents who would then be responsible for attending the police station to pick up the child.

Any information regarding the above investigations can be forwarded to Caledon OPP at 905-584-2241; Bolton office- Caledon OPP 905-857-3304.