Four people from outside the area were arrested in Orillia this morning for a pair of break-ins in Muskoka.
On Dec. 27 at 4:45 a.m. Bracebridge OPP officers were dispatched to a break and enter at a building centre located on Muskoka Road 169 in Gravenhurst.
"Suspects broke in and, with efficiency, stole approximately $10,000 worth of tools and left in a large white panel van," says a media release.
Today, at 1:40 a.m., a Bracebridge OPP officer was conducting proactive patrols on Wellington Street in Bracebridge and recognized an eastbound vehicle matching the description of the one used in the above incident.
The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop and the driver failed to stop as directed, continuing onto Highway 11 south.
"With the assistance of additional officers, including several officers from the Orillia detachment, the vehicle was successfully stopped on Highway 11 south near Highway 12 in Orillia and the four occupants were taken into custody," says the release.
Simultaneously, at 1:45 a.m. this morning, Bracebridge OPP officers received a call from a building centre located on Wellington Street in Bracebridge, reporting that there had been a break and enter that resulted in "a significant quantity of tools" being stolen.
Balkar Singh Mann, 35, of Brampton, was charged with:
- Assault a peace officer with a weapon
- Flight from peace officer
- Dangerous operation
- Failure to stop after accident
- Operation while prohibited
- Two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
- Two counts of break and enter
- Two counts of theft over $5,000
- Failure to comply with undertaking
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000
Nitish Rathee, 23, also of Brampton, was charged with:
- Two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
- Two counts of break and enter
- Two counts of theft over $5,000
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000
Manpreet Singh, 29, of Halton Hills, was charged with:
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000
- Failure to comply with release order
- Two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Two counts of theft over $5,000
- Two counts of break and enter
Manpreet Singh, 26, of Palgrave was charged with:
- Two counts of possession property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession property obtained by crime under $5,000
- Two counts of break and enter
- Two counts of theft over $5,000
- Failure to comply with undertaking
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000
All four accused parties have been held for a bail hearing in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on December 30, 2024.
A quantity of stolen property was recovered from the vehicle and police are continuing the investigation and collecting evidence. Anyone with information or video surveillance in the area of Wellington Street, Bracebridge between 1:00 - 1:45 a.m. on December 30, 2024 is asked to call OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or crimestopperssdm.com.
