NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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Since May of 2022, the 1 District St. Catharines Street Crime Unit (SCU) from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) has been conducting an investigation into a series of property crimes in the north end of St. Catharines.
The offences (theft from unlocked parked vehicles, theft from porches, break and enter) have been centralized in the area east of Niagara Street and north of the QEW.
On June 10, 2022, [it is alleged that] two males stole packages from the porch of a house in the area of Concord Avenue and Garnet Street. As a result of the investigation detectives were able to identify two male suspects from closed circuit camera footage.
On June 13, 2022 at approximately 4:10 p.m., detectives observed one of the suspects enter and rummage through a Ford Focus parked on Catherine Street in St. Catharines. The suspect was arrested. Property from the unlocked Ford Focus was found in his possession. A search of his backpack incident to his arrest located four stolen credit cards linked to thefts from parked cars.
On June 14, 2022, detectives executed a Criminal Code search warrant at the suspect’s Facer Street residence. A search of the residence located stolen property linked to at least seven other incidents of theft in St. Catharines. The second male suspect was arrested that time.
The ongoing investigation has also determined that the two suspects have fraudulently used stolen credit cards at businesses in St. Catharines.
Clinton Richard Coles (40 years) of St. Catharines has been arrested and charged with the criminal offences of:
• Theft under $5,000, Sec. 334(b) CC (two counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, Sec. 355(b) CC (global charge)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, Sec. 355(b) CC
• Unauthorized use of a credit card, Sec. 342(3) CC (3 Counts)
• Fail to comply with probation, Sec. 733.1(1) CC
Joshua Stephen Coles (37 years) of St. Catharines has been arrested and charged with the criminal offences of:
• Theft under $5,000, Sec. 334(b) CC
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, Sec. 355(b) CC (global charge)
• Unauthorized use of a credit card, Sec. 342(1)(c)(i) CC
• Break and enter commit, Sec. 334(1)(b) CC
The Coles brothers were held in custody to attend video bail hearings at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines. They were both held in custody.
This investigation remains ongoing by detectives. Anyone with information is asked to call 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1024233.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
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