Police are asking the public for help after a string of thefts in Blind River.
The OPP says over the summer, outboard motors, a dirt bike, generators, boats, kayaks and other various outdoor tools and equipment were all stolen.
The thefts and break-and-enters took place in Blind River and the surrounding area, and anyone with information is asked to call police or crime stoppers.
Police share the thefts include:
June 23, 2023, a 2.5 horsepower (h.p.) Mercury Outboard Motor was stolen off a boat parked boat/trailer in a parking lot at an apartment complex on Illinois Avenue.
The motor is described as black in color with a blue mark on the top left-hand side of the cowling cover.
Sometime between 9:30 p.m., Thursday June 29, 2023, and 8:00 a.m., on Thursday June 30, 2023, an orange TAO 125 cc dirt bike was stolen from the complainant’s yard on Highway 17 near the local gas station within the community of Mississauga First Nation.
Sometime between 6:00 p.m., on Friday July 21, 2023, and 6:00 p.m., July 22, 2023, the Blind River Marina reported a blue 2200-watt Yamaha generator, and an older model two stroke yellow leaf blower (unknown make) were stolen from the Marina property.
While police were investigating the above theft from the Blind River Marina, Blind River Boat Works had footage of a suspect stealing items from their customers boats parked outside the business.
Between Friday August 4, 2023, and the morning of Sunday August 6, 2023, a theft of a 14-foot aluminum boat with an orange hull and with an attached 2000 blue 9.9 h.p. Evinrude outboard motor that has a cracked cover on the motor (piece of black tape on it) with a sticker with “SPACECK” on it was stolen from the shore of the Blind River waterway that is on a property on Royer Road.
- Update: The 14-foot boat was recovered on an island on the west side of the Blind River (Mississauga First Nation side) on Monday August 14, 2023. The 9.9 Evinrude motor is still outstanding. Also located on the island was an older jet-ski that was reported missing and returned to owner.
Sometime between Sunday July 23, 2023, and Thursday August 10, 2023, on the Blind River waterway, a break and enter occurred at a property on Woodward Avenue.
The complainant’s cottage had been broken into. Access to the cottage was gained through a window and the culprit(s) stole a yellow Champion 3550/4450-Watt Portable Generator, gas cans, fishing tackle and fishing poles from inside the cottage. Also stolen were two kayaks (orange and blue in color), a camouflage canoe, two red plastic Muskoka chairs and a 16-foot aluminum boat with a 9.9 Johnson outboard motor. The boat has a camouflage hull and black bottom. The boat was secured to a dock with the culprit(s) cutting the lines.
- Update: On August 14, 2023, police located the 16-foot camouflage boat tied near the boat launch on Park Street (behind the local secondary school) and was returned to the owner. Still outstanding is the 9.9 Evinrude along with the other stolen property.
On Tuesday August 15, 2023, a grey 25 h.p. Yamaha two stroke motor was stolen from a parking lot at an apartment complex on West Street.
Sometime between the evening of Thursday August 17, 2023, and 8:00 a.m., on Friday August 18, 2023, culprit(s) stole a red 1998 Yamaha Warrior ATV from a property on Francis Street.
- Update: On August 20, 2023, the owner located the ATV on Togo Street.
Anyone with information regarding these thefts is asked to contact the East Algoma OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at www.saultcrimestoppers.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.