Police searching for the Grinch who stole “Milo”

The Edmonton Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a female Grinch who stole a three-month-old Havanese puppy from a northwest home Thursday afternoon, during a residential break and enter.

Northwest Division patrol members responded to a residence near 116 Avenue and 95 Street, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, after receiving a call regarding a residential B&E.

Video surveillance images (see below) show a female suspect walking away from the northwest Edmonton home with the family dog, “Milo” in her arms.

Investigators believe the suspect targeted the residence to steal the family’s dog, as no other belongings were taken from the home. The couple were not home at the time of the B&E, and had left “Milo” in a kennel.

The couple, who are understandably upset by the loss of their new dog, not to mention the invasion of privacy, had just purchased the puppy and brought it home last month. They were looking forward to their first Christmas together with their new puppy.

The suspect is described as being a female, approximately 20 to 30 years of age, wearing black pants, a grey hoodie and beige jacket, at the time of the break and enter.

Anyone with information about the suspect’s identity or the whereabouts of “Milo” is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

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Police investigating early-morning robbery of armoured guards at bank

Robbery Section detectives continue to investigate an early-morning armed robbery at a financial institution in northeast Edmonton, which sent two armoured truck guards to hospital.

Northeast Division patrol members responded to a bank located near 81 Street and 160 Avenue, after GardaWorld Security Services personnel reported a robbery and explosion to police at approximately 2:10 a.m. this morning, Thursday, December 13, 2018.

It was reported to officers that two armoured guards entered the lobby of the bank while conducting their duties, when an explosion occurred injuring both of the guards.

An armed suspect then stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the guards, before fleeing the financial institution eastbound on foot.

Paramedics treated and transported a female and male guard to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was wearing a disguise, and as such no suspect description is available at this time.

                                                                                          

Robbery detectives would like to speak to anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect and/or this morning’s violent bank robbery by contacting the Edmonton Police Service Complaint Line at 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your tip online at www.p3tips.com/250.

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EPS issues reminder of ongoing online fraud and identity theft

The Edmonton Police Service has launched a new fraud prevention campaign to warn citizens of a variety of ongoing and evolving scams.

Over a five year period (2013-2017) the EPS has seen an 89% increase in reported incidents related to fraud, identity theft and identity fraud. In the first nine months of 2018 the EPS has seen a further 9.5% increase compared to the same time last year.

 

Reported incidents	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Fraud	3306	3792	4487	5461	5963
Identity Theft	44	93	103	169	169
Identity Fraud	339	466	548	692	833
Total:	3689	4351	5138	6322	6965

*Data generated on Nov. 16, 2018

 

The types of scams remain relatively unchanged. Fraudsters continue to pose as police officers and other government bodies in an attempt to obtain money from citizens. They often contact victims in a variety of ways, including over the phone, e-mail, text or social media – and in many cases these individuals often speak the same language as their victims and their calls may appear to come from legitimate police or government phone numbers.

 

“What has evolved is the method of payment demanded by fraudsters,” says Const. Tuyen Nguyen with the EPS Cyber Crimes Investigations Unit. “While gift cards were once the preferred payment of choice, fraudsters are now increasingly demanding payment in other forms such as BitCoin and e-transfers.”

 

Earlier this year EPS developed signage that was placed near BitCoin machines at cafes across the city to warn users that government bodies and police agencies do not accept payment for taxes and fines through BitCoin.  As the year progressed, police continued to receive consistent reports of online fraud and identity theft and felt additional crime prevention messaging was required.

 

 

 

“Front counter staff at several EPS divisions noticed an increase of reports of fraud and identity theft,” says Const. Kyle Pepper with Southwest Division.

 

“More specifically, we noticed the large majority of complainants were newcomers to the Edmonton area. As a result, the EPS developed a brochure that will be available at all EPS divisional stations and at other agencies that assist newcomers.”

 

“Our goal is to have the brochures developed in multiple languages in the near future.”

 

The messaging will also appear in multi-language ads across the city and online in 2019.

 

Citizens are reminded that government bodies such as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP):

• do not threaten deportation or arrests of family members for non-payment,

• do not demand immediate payment of taxes or fines over the phone via email or through social media; and

• do not accept BitCoin, gift cards, e-mail or money transfers as a valid form of payment.

 

Do not provide personal or banking information by phone, email, text or social media as it may result in the loss of money and/or identity theft.

 

Anyone who believes they may have been defrauded this way is encouraged to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or dial #377 from a mobile phone. Contacting Equifax and Transunion, Canadian credit monitoring agencies, is also recommended.

 

If you have not lost money, but suspect you have been targeted, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

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Medical Examiner releases autopsy results in connection to deaths of two children

The Edmonton Medical Examiner has confirmed that two children found deceased in a southeast Edmonton apartment suite on Dec. 5, 2018, were stabbed to death, and the manner of death is homicide.

The ages of the two deceased female children have been confirmed as being six months and three years old.

On Dec. 6, EPS Homicide Section investigators charged a 29-year-old male, the father of the youngest child, with two counts of second degree murder, one count each of assault causing bodily harm and breach of probation.

 

Background:
At approximately 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, Southeast Division officers responded to the report of an assault on a female in the area of 79 Avenue and 71 Street.

 

Upon arrival, officers located a female in distress and with serious injuries.

 

At approximately 8:30 p.m., officers received a report of a male acting erratically who broke into a garage at 73 Street and 80 Avenue. It was later determined that the male was a suspect in relation to the assault of the female at 79 Avenue and 71 Street. The man was arrested at that time.

 

After further investigations, patrol officers returned to the apartment suite at 79 Avenue and 71 Street where two children were found deceased. 

The mother of the two children remains in hospital today, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, as she continues to recover from wounds sustained during the assault.

 

-30-

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Police investigate collision with pedestrian on 118 Avenue

The EPS is investigating a collision involving a truck and a pedestrian that occurred this morning in northwest Edmonton.

Northwest Division patrol members responded to an intersection at 118 Avenue and 86 Street at approximately 6:15 a.m. today, Monday, December 10, 2018, after receiving a 911 call regarding a collision between a pedestrian and a truck.

It was reported to police that a female pedestrian was struck by a Dodge Ram 3500, which was travelling westbound on 118 Avenue. A 32-year-old woman is alleged to have stepped off the curb, when she was struck by the truck being driven by a 48-year-old male.

The woman had reportedly been standing on the northeast corner of 118 Avenue and 85 Street, where she was attempting to cross the street southbound when she was struck. 

It is also believed the pedestrian was attempting to cross the street against the light, when she was struck by the oncoming truck.

The female pedestrian was treated and transported to hospital with serious injuries. Major Collision Investigations Section has since taken over the investigation.

No charges have been laid against the driver of the truck, at this time.

Anyone who witnessed this collision is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

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Police seek public's assistance locating violent offender

The Edmonton Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating 41-year-old Gregory Ottertail, who is wanted for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.

Wanted: Gregory Ottertail, 41

 

Ottertail is described as approximately 6’ tall and 186 lbs with brown eyes and black hair. He is known to reside in the downtown area and is currently of no fixed address.

 

The Edmonton Police Service considers Ottertail to be of high risk to offend violently; he is a convicted sexual offender and violent offender.  If seen, he should not be approached. Members of the public who have information regarding Ottertail’s whereabouts are asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service.

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Suspects responsible for front door B&E series arrested

A month-long investigation has led to the arrest of three suspects in connection to upwards of 30 front door breach B&Es in Edmonton and surrounding communities.

In early November, Southwest CIS detectives began investigating a series of residential, daytime B&Es, which saw two the suspects kick open the front doors of homes to gain entry. The suspects targeted in excess of 20 homes in Edmonton and another 10 in Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Devon and St Albert.

Once inside the suspects predominantly stole jewelry and firearms from residences throughout the series. In the most recent incident on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, the suspects were observed committing a B&E in nearby Devon, where a large quantity of firearms were allegedly stolen.

The suspects were followed until they split up with one going to a residence in Spruce Grove. The first suspect and a 32-year-old female were arrested at that location. The second suspect, a 32-year-old male, was followed and eventually arrested outside a residence in St. Albert, later the same day.

Search warrants were executed at both residences leading to the recovery of a significant amount of suspected stolen property.

Mitchell Andonov, 33, of Spruce Grove, and Michael Howard, 32, of St. Albert, are each facing 32 charges related to break and enter and possession of firearms.

 

Charges against the 32-year-old female have yet to be sworn before a Justice of the Peace, and therefore EPS isn’t releasing her name at this time.

The investigation is ongoing, and further charges are pending. The RCMP detachments in all four of these outlying communities were involved and assisted with the successful conclusion of this investigation. The EPS is grateful for their assistance.

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