Category: Crime Of The Week

Police are continuing to investigate three separate assaults where a man sprayed three different women with a sensory irritant in Halifax last year.

On December 8, 2021 at approximately 5:30 p.m., police received a report of an incident that had occurred 15 minutes earlier in the 1700 block of Market Street. A man approached a man and a woman in a parkade and sprayed a sensory irritant at the woman. The suspect then fled the area on foot.

At 6:07 p.m. police responded to two additional incidents that had just occurred where a man had sprayed a woman with a sensory irritant. One incident occurred in the area of Market and Sackville streets and the other occurred on Prince Street between Barrington and Grafton streets. In both incidents, the man sprayed the sensory irritant at the woman as he walked past her.

The suspect was not known to the victims. He is described as a white man, approximately 5’10” to 6’ tall with a thin build. He was wearing a black parka with beige fur around the hood, jeans and a dark colored face mask. In the last two incidents, he appeared to be listening to loud music playing from his phone.

Police are releasing photos of the suspect and are asking anyone with information on his identity to contact police.

Anyone with information or video from the area at the time of the incidents is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or by using the P3 Tips app. http://ow.ly/PpIs30saa0I

File # 21-152116 21-152128 21-152129

February 8, 2022, Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia…The Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit is investigating the delivery of suspicious packages to three Federal Constituency Offices in Southwestern Nova Scotia.

Shortly after 11 a.m. on February 7, Barrington RCMP, fire and EHS responded to a complaint of a package having been received at a Federal Constituency Office in Barrington Passage. Police learned that an employee had opened a package and began having difficulty breathing and their eyes and skin became irritated. Police secured the area until officers trained in the safe handling of irritants could attend the scene. The affected employee was transported to hospital by ambulance for decontamination and did not suffer further injury.

The RCMP took steps to notify all Federal Constituency Offices in Nova Scotia of the incident.

At approximately the same time, Bridgewater Police Service responded to a complaint of a similar suspicious package having been received at the Federal Constituency Office in Bridgewater. Police learned that the employees were aware of the incident in Barrington Passage and no one had handled the package, nor suffered adverse effects from it. Bridgewater Police seized the package for testing. Shortly after 1 p.m., Yarmouth Town RCMP responded to a complaint of a similar suspicious package having been received at the Federal Constituency Office in Yarmouth. Police learned that the package had not been opened, but that an employee who handled the package did experience skin irritation. The employee did not require medical attention. Yarmouth Town RCMP seized the package for testing.

The Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit is leading the investigations, gathering information and evidence. The packages are suspected to have contained a chemical irritant, and further testing is being conducted to identify the substance. The investigation is being assisted by RCMP Forensic Identification Services and the RCMP Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Unit (CBRNE).

Anyone with information on these incidents, is asked to please contact the Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-365-3160. Should you wish to remain anonymous call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

File #’s: 2022-158734, 2022-158595, 2022-159223

Police are investigating the theft of a painting in Halifax last month.

On January 31, 2022, a valuable painting was stolen from a parked vehicle in Halifax. A man was transporting items, including the painting, from Prescott Street to Inglis Street in his vehicle. He noticed that the painting was missing as he was unloading the vehicle at the Inglis Street location. The man went back and forth to his vehicle while loading and unloading items at both locations and it is not known from which location the painting was stolen.

The painting is titled “Starry Night” (Boy with Fox) and was painted in the late 1970s by Nova Scotian artist Joe Norris. It is enamel on stretched canvas and measures 24” x 30”.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident or video from the area to call 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or using the P3 Tips App

Halifax Regional Police is investigating a number of suspicious envelopes that were delivered to Halifax City Hall yesterday.At approximately 7:45 p.m. police responded to a report of suspicious envelopes that had been delivered to Halifax City Hall. Members from the Forensic Identification Section attended and seized a number of envelopes in relation to the investigation. At this time, there are no reported injuries or illness in relation to the envelopes. Testing is being conducted on the contents of the envelopes.

The investigation is ongoing by members of the General Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division.

Anyone with information about the suspicious envelopes is asked to call police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or using the P3 Tips App.

Today marks the first anniversary of the murder of Brandon Reginald Polegato, and the Special Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division continues to investigate the case.

On February 7, 2021 at approximately 8:50 p.m., Halifax Regional Police responded to a weapons complaint at an address in the 600 block of Washmill Lake Drive in Halifax. Officers located Brandon deceased inside the building. The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service conducted an autopsy and ruled the death a homicide.

Investigators believe there are people who have information that could help solve Brandon’s murder. They are asking anyone with information to do the right thing and come forward with what they know; even the smallest piece of information could be the key to progressing the investigation into Brandon’s murder.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 902-490-5016. or Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or using the P3 Tips App.

At approximately 7:35 p.m. police responded to a robbery at the Circle K Irving at 15 Fairfax Drive.

A man entered the store, pushed the employee and took a quantity of cigarettes. He then fled the store on foot.

The suspect is described as a white man in his twenties, approximately 6’ tall with short brown hair. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt with black lettering on the front, white Nike sneakers and a black mask.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident or video from the area to call 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or using the P3 Tips App.

Police are investigating a break into a home under construction on Waxing Lane in Middle Sackville, N.S..

A residential break and enter occurred sometime between Wednesday, January 5^th, 2022 after 1600 hours to Thursday, January 6^th, 2022 around 1300 hours.  Suspects broke stole a Cooper and Hunter Sophia Series Mini Split Air Conditioner with Heat Pump and an electric fireplace which was a Continental CEFL42FH-1.

Photos of items stolen are attached.

Anyone with any information regarding this crime can call Lower Sackville RCMP at 902 490 5020 or can leave an anonymous tip on line at crimestoppers.ns.ca, or can leave a tip via the P3 app or can call Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477 (TIPS).

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January 25, 2022, Martinique, Richmond County, Nova Scotia…Richmond County District RCMP is investigating shots fired at a vessel in Lennox Passage near Martinique.

On December 8, 2021, police responded to a complaint of shots fired at a vessel that was travelling in Lennox Passage. The vessel had been near the Lennox Passage Provincial Park when four shots were fired from land towards the boat and entered the water just off the vessel’s bow. No one was injured during this incident.

Police have been investigating this incident since it was reported and continue to gather evidence and information.

Richmond County District RCMP are asking that anyone with information contact them at 902-535-2002. Should you wish to remain anonymous call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

File #: 2021-1826313

Halifax Regional Police is making the public aware of a number of thefts of catalytic converters throughout the region in recent months.

A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device located under the vehicle between the muffler and the manifold. Catalytic converters are made of precious metals, which can make them valuable as scrap metal. Thieves stealing catalytic converters can act quickly and precisely, and these thefts can take place in under a minute. Thieves need access to the underside of vehicles and often use cordless reciprocating saws, which will create a loud grinding noise.

HRP is asking the public to be mindful of the following potential signs and report any suspicious activity:

• Vehicles going into businesses when they appear to be closed.
• Vehicles parked in dimly lit areas or secluded areas, especially during off hours.
• People who appear to be hiding from passing traffic or looking into or under vehicles.
• Grinding noises, as thieves may be using reciprocating saws to detach the converter.

Anyone with information about these thefts is asked to call police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or using the P3 Tips App.

On January 21, 2022, New Glasgow Regional received nine reports of thefts from vehicles in the areas of Chestnut Street, Meadowlark Drive, Lovat Crescent, Parkview Drive in Westside New Glasgow and Park Street in Trenton. The thefts from vehicles occurred in the early morning of Friday January 21, where personal identification papers and valuables were stolen.

The two suspects are described as:

Suspect 1-White Male, wearing red sweater and red sweatpants with a large ECKO logo on the front of the sweater as well as on the leg of the sweatpants. Wearing a black mask and black sneakers with a white sole. 

Suspect 2-White Male, wearing a black sweater, black pants, a black mask and a black hat. Also wearing white sneakers with black laces.

Suspects driving a red colored Hyundai four door passenger car.

The investigation continues.

New Glasgow Regional Police are investigating nine incidents of thefts from vehicles throughout the towns of New Glasgow and Trenton,
New Glasgow Regional Police are advising the public to lock their vehicles. Many of the vehicles were left unlocked and valuables were in plain view.

“This is clearly a crime of opportunity, where criminals will mainly focus on the unlocked vehicles rather than focus their attention on locked vehicles,” said Constable Ken Macdonald of the New Glasgow Regional Police. 

Anyone who has information or may have witnessed this theft from vehicles is asked to call New Glasgow Regional Police at 902-752-1941. Should you wish to remain anonymous call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

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