Cobourg Police recovered 83 stolen shopping carts, worth an estimated $50,000 minimum, during a roundup within the town on Saturday, May 18.
Fifth-three of the carts were retrieved from the encampment. All shopping carts were returned to the respective stores. The value of each cart ranges from $600 to $2000 each.
No charges were laid for theft of possession of stolen property during the initiative but police warned charges may be laid in these instances going forward.
That happened on Sunday as officers observed a female in the downtown in possession of a Winners shopping cart. The individual was stopped, and the stolen property was seized to be returned to the owner.
32-year-old Maria Raycraft of Cobourg was arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime. She was released with a future court date.
Cobourg Police laid two more charges Tuesday, May 20 for individuals in possession of stolen shopping carts.
Shortly after 5:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of William and Heath Streets in relation to a personal welfare check and located a male in possession of a shopping cart full of copper wire and power tools.
37-year-old Michael Herdman of Cobourg was arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime.
The accused was released on an undertaking with a future court. Police continued their investigation and determined that some of the property was stolen from a break and enter overnight at a construction.
Later in the day Tuesday, around 2:30 p.m., police on general patrol in the downtown area observed an individual riding a bicycle pulling a blue shopping cart.
Officers arrested 40-year-old Cara Bruins, of Cobourg, for possession of a shopping cart. During a search incident to arrest, the accused was found in possession of a small quantity of fentanyl and was charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Possession of a Schedule 1 substance – fentanyl.
The accused was released on an undertaking with a future court.
