Photo: PexelsPolice to be out in full force on Tuesday
- On Tuesday September 7, the Niagara Regional Police will be out across the Niagara Region in school zones in order to remind drivers and pedestrians of student’s return to school.
- Beginning at 8:00 a.m., officers and detectives will be reassigned from their daily duties in order to participate in this important initiative, now in its 21st year.
- Officers will be paying close attention to school zones and their posted speed limits, child restraint systems, school bus safety, aggressive driving and distracted driving concerns.
Gift card scam warning
- Niagara Regional Police are warning the public about a gift card scam.
- The scammer calls, pretending to be from their bank and advises that there is fraudulent activity on their account.
- The scammer then asks the victim to allow the scammer access to the victim’s computer to review their bank records.
- The scammer then requests money from the victim in order to search for the ‘suspect’ that made purchases on the victim’s account.
- The scammer requests the amount be purchased through gift cards and asks the victim to scratch the back of the gift cards and send them the information.
Stolen purse in St. Catharines contained urn
- On July 3, a female had parked her Jeep Cherokee in a parking lot on Welland Avenue at the corner of Court Street.
- When the victim returned to the vehicle later she discovered that her purse had been stolen.
- Inside of the purse was a blue velvet bag containing a black metal urn with the remains of her husband.
- A black leather men’s wallet with his Ontario Drivers Licence and possibly a previously cancelled Visa and Mastercard was also inside the purse.
- Anyone who may have information about this incident is being asked to contact the officers at 905-688-4111, extension 1024233.
Scam Alert: Police phone number on call display
- Recently a Niagara resident received a call from an automated message stating there was an issue with their social insurance number.
- When the victim stayed on the line the scammer falsely identified themselves as an officer.
- The victim went to a convenience store at the direction of the scammer and made a payment in Bitcoin to prevent their arrest.
- The victim reported that when the scammer called, the number displayed on his call display was the Niagara Regional Police Service administration number (905-688-4111).
- However, scammers can hide their real phone number and display whatever phone number they choose.
Attempted Niagara Falls Abduction Under Investigation
- Police are investigating an attempted abduction that occurred on Sunday June 27, just before 4:00PM in the Murray Street and Stanley Avenue area in Niagara Falls.
- A female was walking alone along the Murray Street sidewalk when a male driving a newer model silver Buick got out of the car, took hold of the female’s arm and told her to get into the car.
- The victim was able to break free.
- The suspect’s car had a Quebec license plate and black interior.
- The suspect is described as a black male, 30 – 40 years old with short black hair and approximately 6’0 ft., 180 lbs.
Photo: Don Andrews - Freerange PhotosMOMS Act comes into effect July 1
- As of July 1st, Ontario is implementing the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act (MOMS Act) as part of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
- The MOMS Act was designed to further combat street racing, stunt, aggressive and unsafe driving.
- The MOMS Act was created to protect vulnerable road users, protect highway workers, strengthen provincial oversight of the towing sector and fight street racing/stunt driving, and aggressive and unsafe driving.
- Under the new Act, the length of roadside licence suspensions will be increased.
- As well, driving 40km/hr over the speed limit in certain situations can result in stunt driving charges.