There are 145,000 stories in the Royal City, and this is some of them. Looking at a week’s worth of media releases from the Guelph Police Service, there’s a lot going on in our little city crime-wise speaking, so let’s run down some of the charges, issues, and requests for information from the Guelph Police Service over the last seven days.
***Please note that not all offenses and police calls are reported in the daily Guelph Police media release.
Assault
At around 4:15 am on Thursday, officers were patrolling near Woolwich and Speedvale Avenue when they saw a man walking on the sidewalk, noting him to be wearing a red jacket and red backpack. The man appeared to notice police and fled on foot into nearby backyards. Officers checked the area and located a red backpack. Inside they found an unloaded shotgun and canister of bear spray. The investigation is ongoing.
A 24-year-old Guelph woman was charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer last Saturday. A woman made concerning comments and barricaded herself in a room as police were doing a wellness check downtown. She kicked an officer in the leg, and later bit the same officer hard enough to leave teeth imprints through two layers of clothing while being arrested.
Break-Ins
Shortly after 9 am on Thursday, police were called to a business near York and Victoria after staff arrived to find power to the business had been shut off sometime overnight and three computers and computer equipment were stolen. It is believed suspects gained entry through a mechanical room and turned off the power before entering the individual business. If you have any information call Constable Adam Shutsa at 519-824-1212, ext. 7335, or email ashutsa [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Just before 11 am on Thursday police were called to another business near York and Victoria. The owner arrived to find the front door had been pried open sometime overnight. Some property including a cash register with a small amount of cash, watches and a GPS device had been stolen. If you have any information, call Constable James Nightingale at 519-824-1212, ext. 7281, or email jnightingale [at] guelphpolice.ca.
On Monday, railway staff contacted police about a break-in that occurred over the weekend at a storage container near Victoria and York was entered after locks were removed. A specialized yellow hydraulic jack used to raise railway tracks as well as a box of aluminum signs were stolen. The stolen items are valued at more than $1,600. If you have any information, call Constable Sherry Pettapiece at 519-824-1212, ext. 7479, or email spettapiece [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Early last Saturday at approximately 2:35 am, a man climbed through a small window at a business near York and Victoria and stole product including alcohol and snacks while an employee was working in the back. The suspect was described as white, 25 to 30, 5’6” with blonde hair and several tattoos and wearing a white jacket with red stripes, green track pants, brown sandals and a black cap. He was accompanied by a white female, 22 to 25, 5’5” with blonde hair and wearing a camo hoodie and black jeans. If you have any information, call Constable Jen Probst at 519-824-1212, ext. 7296, or email jprobst [at] guelphpolice.ca.
A 49-year-old Guelph man was charged with two counts each of break and enter, possessing break-in instruments and disguise with intent to commit an offence, eight counts of using a stolen credit card, four counts of fraud under $5,000 and three counts of possessing stolen property in connection to two north-end break-ins in mid-October.
A 40-year-old Guelph man was arrested for break and enter and theft under $5,000 on Sunday after two men broke into a garage near Paisley and Ridgewood and stole power tools and batteries worth approximately $3,000.
Drugs
Nothing to report.
Fraud
Police are looking for two women who took advantage of a vulnerable man in the south end Monday afternoon. They had him pay for $200 worth of clothes in Walmart, then had him withdraw $1,000 from a nearby bank, and bought $500 in groceries and gift cards at another store. The suspects were described as being approximately 30 with tanned skin and medium builds. One had red hair in a bun and a long black puffy coat while the other had dark hair in a bun and was wearing a pink and black jacket. If you have any information, call Constable Matt Simpson at 519-824-1212, ext. 7318, or email msimpson [at] guelphpolice.ca.
A 28-year-old Kitchener man was charged with possessing counterfeit money and using counterfeit money after an incident at a Woodlawn West establishment on October 19 where a man gave his friends fake $100 bills for them to use. He attempted several times to use the bills and would act surprised when told they were fake. Three were found by staff in the register at the end of the day.
If you think you might be a victim of any fraud, call the Guelph Police Non-Emergency line is 519-824-5154, or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at their website.
Impaired Driving
A 21-year-old Guelph man was charged with stunt driving, speeding, failing to surrender a vehicle permit and driving a vehicle with cannabis available early Saturday morning. He was clocked doing 161 kilometres per hour in a 40 zone near Stone and Victoria. A search of the car revealed more than 30 empty beer cans in the rear seat as well as a contaminated cannabis pipe and a vapourizer beside the driver’s seat.
A 30-year-old Georgetown man was charged with impaired driving, driving while suspended, breaching a release order and breaching a probation order last Saturday evening after a cruiser’s automatic licence plate reader alerted to a vehicle owned by someone who is currently a prohibited driver due to an impaired driving arrest downtown.
A 41-year-old Guelph man is charged with impaired driving last Saturday night after officers bserved a vehicle reversing from a driveway and hitting a passing car near Speedvale and Metcalfe. Tests confirmed he had more than twice the legal amount of alcohol in his system, and there was an open bottle of rum observed in the centre console.
A 59-year-old Guelph man was charged with impaired driving last Saturday night after a driving complaint pulled over a vehicle on Victoria Road South. Tests showed that he had more than double the legal amount of alcohol in his system. An empty vodka bottle was located inside the car.
Theft
The latest in a rash of distraction thefts, a woman in her 60s was walking on Farley Drive just before 1 pm last Thursday when she was approached by two people in a vehicle. They asked for directions then placed rings and a necklace on the victim while asking her to pray for a sick family member. Afterwards the victim realized her necklace was missing. The suspects are described as being of South-Asian descent. The woman was 18 to 25 years of age with a heavy build, black hair and long white nails. The man was in his 40s, balding with black hair and a full beard. They were driving a dark-coloured SUV. If you have any information call Constable Andrew Kamenz at 519-824-1212, ext. 7566, or email akamenz [at] guelphpolice.ca.
On Wednesday morning, officers were called to a business near Elizabeth and Victoria after staff arrived and discovered a hole had been cut sometime overnight in a perimeter fence. Security camera footage revealed two suspects arrived just after 1 am, and parking in a neighbouring lot before gaining entry. The two made multiple trips, using a wagon and dolly to transport rims to their vehicle. The victim estimated 40 rims were stolen with a scrap value of $1,000. Both suspects were believed to be male; the first was wearing a blue jacket, jeans and possibly brown boots. The second was wearing a black jacket and black pants. If you have any information, call Constable Matt Trecroce at 519-824-1212, ext. 7598, or email mtrecroce [at] guelphpolice.ca.
At approximately 4:30 am on Wednesday, a white Wabash refrigerated trailer was hooked up and towed away from a Speedvale West business with 30 pallets of Gay Lea-branded whipped cream worth $80,000 inside. If you have any information, call Constable Jonathan Schleen at 519-824-1212, ext. 7570, or email jschleen [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Theft (Auto)
On Monday morning, a resident near Victoria and Clair contacted police to report that the side window of his 2025 Toyota Tundra had been smashed and wiring under the dashboard was damaged, making the vehicle unable to start. If you have any information, call Constable Jonathan Schleen at 519-824-1212, ext. 7570, or email jschleen [at] guelphpolice.ca.
Traffic
Just before 1 pm on Friday. emergency services were called to the west end where they found a 13-year-old boy suffering from facial injuries after he lost control of his brother’s escooter and struck his face on the ground. The scooter collided with a neighbour’s car causing minor damage. Reminder: according to the City of Guelph’s e-scooter bylaw, riders must be 16 or older and must wear a helmet if they are under 18.
Other Notes
A 50-year-old Guelph woman was charged with prowling near a dwelling and obstructing police early on Thursday after police saw a woman in the backyard of a Woolwich Street residence and they appeared to be trying to avoid detection. Officers spoke to the woman, who provided a name later determined to be false and did not live in the area.
A 33-year-old Guelph man faces new charges of obstructing police, resisting arrest and failing to attend court on Wednesday night after police were notified about a suspicious person outside a closed business on Woodlawn West. Investigation revealed he was wanted after missing court on charges including possessing stolen property, resisting arrest and escaping lawful custody. He resisted efforts to handcuff him while being taken into custody.
A 50-year-old Guelph man was charged with careless use of a firearm, recklessly discharging a firearm, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and unsafe storage of ammunition after a two-hour stand off with Guelph Police Wednesday afternoon at a residence near York and Harris. No physical injuries were reported and a shotgun and nearly 50 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
A 23-year-old Guelph man has been arrested for mischief interfering with the lawful enjoyment of property after his landlords reported him to police. Since he moved into their basement unit in July here have been 28 calls for service for noise complaints, harassing neighbours, activating fire alarms in the middle of the night and leaving his dog unattended for days, causing foul odours to fill the house.
Total calls for service last week: 1,647
If you have any information about the crimes or incidents mentioned above, you can also call Guelph Wellington Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or post online at csgw.tips.
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