Haliburton Highlands OPP have charged a second person in connection to two vehicle thefts that occurred on Saturday, February 26, 2022, in Minden Hills Township.
On February 26, 2022, at 6 a.m., officers attended an abandoned vehicle in a snowbank on Scotch Line Road. It was determined that this vehicle had been stolen overnight. Officers conducted further investigation and determined that another vehicle had been stolen from the same area.
The owner of the second stolen vehicle was able to use GPS capabilities to provide a location of the stolen vehicle to police. Officers attended a commercial parking lot in Minden, located the vehicle and made an arrest without incident.
As a result, Curtis Penick, 32 years old, of Minden Hills Township, has been charged with:
· Theft of a Motor Vehicle
· Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – two counts
· Operation While Prohibited
· Driving While Under Suspension
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Minden, on April 6, 2022.
A follow up investigation was conducted and a second person has since been charged in relation to this investigation.
Michael Watson, 43 years old, from Minden Hills Township, has been charged with:
· Theft of a Motor Vehicle
· Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – two counts
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Minden, on April 6, 2022.
The above noted matter is now before the courts and no further information is available for release. Police are also investigating the reports of other stolen vehicles in Minden Hills, within the past week. Those investigations are still ongoing and it is unknown if they are related at this time.
Local residents are reminded to always lock their vehicles and take keys with them. Residents are also asked to check their security cameras and report any suspicious persons or activity to police.
Haliburton Highlands OPP is requesting anyone with information that can assist police to call 1-888-310-1122 or (705) 286-1431. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web-tip at https://www.khcrimestoppers.com/ where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward.
