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Broadcast time: 1:51 PM |
Date: November 14, 2013 |
Two Sarnia men were arrested early this morning just before 12:30 AM in the 500 block of Confederation Street. These arrests are the result of an ongoing joint project that is being conducted by the Sarnia Police Criminal Investigations Branch along with the assistance of the Sarnia Police COPPS Branch and the Ontario Provincial Police Street Crimes Unit. These arrests come as a result of a rash of break and enters involving metal thefts over the past several months.
The two males, aged 42 and 49, both from Sarnia were caught breaking into a business on Tunnel Street and stealing copper wire. The men cut a hole in the chain link fence, entered the compound and then open up a wall of a building within the compound. They entered that building and removed a spool of wire. The attended their vehicle which was parked nearby. The men fled in the vehicle but not before being approached by a plain clothes officer who identified himself and ordered them to stop. They fled at a high rate of speed in the car towards Campbell Street without their lights on.
The driver nearly collided with a marked police cruiser as he continued speeding away eastbound on Campbell Street. The vehicle was finally stopped in a parking lot in the 500 block of Confederation Street where they were immediately arrested as they instantaneously exited the vehicle.
Inside the car, in plain view, was a hacksaw, bolt cutters, flashlights and the spool of wire. The driver was also found in possession of liquid methamphetamine.
The men were held for bail. Martin Brian Burk, age 42 and James Stewart Viggers face several charges both jointly and separately, including Mischief Over $5,000, Break and Enter, Possession of Break in Tools, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of Methamphetamine and Breach of Probation.
The investigation is continuing and more charges are expected on other individuals. These thefts are most often committed by drug addicts in order to fuel their dependence on drugs.
Constable Heather Emmons
Media Relations Officer
Tel: 519-344-8861 Ext 5345
Email: hemmons@police.sarnia.on.ca