NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
*************************
KIRKLAND LAKE - On Dec. 6, 2019, members of the Kirkland Lake Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a theft of a wallet in the Town of Kirkland Lake, ON.
Investigation revealed that the victim forgot their wallet in a shopping cart and that it was then taken by the accused. Further investigation revealed that the accused used the victim's credit and debit cards to make several purchases.
As a result, Mark Siford, age 60, of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, has been charged with the following:
- Theft under $5000., contrary to section 334(b) of the criminal code (CC),
- Theft of credit card (two counts), contrary to section 342(1)(a) of the CC,
- Fraud under $5000. (two counts), contrary to section 380(1)(b) of the CC, and
- Possession of a schedule I substance - methamphetamine, contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).
The accused was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Kirkland Lake, on Jan. 16, 2020.
With most credit and debit cards having the "tap" feature which does not require a code or PIN to complete a transaction it is even more important to act quickly if you suspect that you have lost your cards or have become the victim of a theft. Criminals can make several purchases in a short amount of time using the "tap" feature or by making online purchases which can total a large dollar value in no time.
If you suspect that you have lost your wallet or that it has been stolen, you should contact your banking provider to advise them so to avoid any fraudulent transaction. You should also report the incident to your nearest police agency.
Members of the public can use online reporting to report selected incidents using their mobile device, laptop, tablet or computer. Online reporting provides another way for citizens to report crimes that are not emergencies, but that fall under specific parameters, including:
- Theft under $5000;
- Mischief/damage to property under $5000;
- Mischief/damage to vehicle Under $5000;
- Theft from vehicle;
- Lost/missing property under $5000;
- Stolen license plates; and
- Driving complaints
For more information about online reporting go to: opp.ca/reporting
*************************
