Another East Side Convenience Store Break In

February 1, 2010

The Owen Sound Police Service is investigating the theft of a van and another break-in to a convenience store on the city’s east side on Friday.

Owen Sound Police Inspector Stephen MacKinnon stated, “We believe the theft of the van and the break-in to the Clark’s of Silicote convenience store are connected.  At the same time we are continuing our investigation into the break-in to the O/S Milk Convenience store and looking to see if it is connected to this latest break-in.”

An employee arriving at work before 6 o’clock Friday morning found the gate that normally helps secure the store was not across the front door and the store, located at 12th Street and 3rd Avenue East was insecure.  Police were called and when officers arrived they found the cigarette display had been ransacked and an unknown quantity of cigarettes stolen.  An unknown quantity of lottery tickets was also taken.  The store owner is conducting an inventory to ascertain the exact amount of the loss.  One of the Owen Sound Police Service Forensic Identification Officers was on the scene to collect evidence for further examination.

Shortly after 7:30 a.m. the owner of a van reported his vehicle had been stolen sometime overnight from his driveway in the 1500 block of 8th Avenue East.  Footprints in the snow showed a single person walked northbound from 15th Street East, entered the van and backed it out of the driveway before proceeding southbound on the avenue.  The owner advised police he had not left his keys in his vehicle.

Before noon, Uniformed Officers on patrol located the stolen van in a parking lot near 7th Avenue and 19th Street East.  A Forensic Identification Officer as well as members of the Criminal Investigation Branch attended the scene as there appeared to be three sets of footprints leading away from the vehicle.  Some items believed stolen from the break-in to Clark’s of Silicote were located at the scene and seized, along with the van, and taken by Owen Sound Police for further forensic examination.

“There are some similarities between the two convenient store break-ins however I want to ensure neither investigation is jeopardized.  I can only say we are very actively pursuing the evidence to see if the same thieves were at both locations,” said MacKinnon.

Anyone with information on any of these investigations is asked to call the Owen Sound Police Service at 519-376-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
 

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