5 dead after SUV collides with transport truck in southwestern Ontario
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Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thieves tug at heartstrings in string of Canada-wide distraction thefts, police say
EDMONTON — Police in Alberta say the public should mind strangers asking for hugs or sharing sob stories after three people were arrested in a string of "distraction" thefts across Canada. Edmonton police say officers have received at least 63 reports since May of people having belongings stolen while being distracted by thieves. Three women were charged with theft last week in an investigation that also involved RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency. Warrants have been issued for three more believed to be part of the scheme. More are believed to be out there, said Edmonton police Const. Shiva Shunmugam. At a Tuesday news conference, Shunmugam said the suspects are believed to be connected to similar thefts from B.C. to Toronto. "It's not limited to Alberta," he said. "It's Canada-wide." The tactic, they say, is straightforward. The thieves, acting in groups resembling families, approach vulnerable people in places from grocery stores to parking lots to strike up a conversation — going as far as asking for a hug or having them "bless" jewelry. But during the interaction, Shunmugam said, the bandits will steal the victim's jewelry and flee in a vehicle, often branded with a licence plate from B.C., Ontario or Quebec. It's an alarming trend that police say is taking place from coast to coast. RCMP in British Columbia have said several thefts took place earlier this summer, where a woman showered vulnerable seniors with compliments while a male accomplice attempted to replace the expensive jewelry with near worthless dupes. Ottawa police put out a call last month for the public's help after a man and woman in their 90s had their rings and necklaces snatched. In Winnipeg, two men believed to be part of a travelling jewelry scam were charged in similar distraction thefts in recent months. In one case, the man had a child with him and gave a fake story about needing money to travel, offering up fake gold jewelry. One case in Edmonton saw a 70-year-old woman have her gold necklace stolen after a man told her she looked like his deceased grandmother. Asked why the CBSA was involved with the investigation in Edmonton, Shunmugam confirmed that some of the suspects have claimed protected status. Canada grants protected status to people deemed to be in need of protection or who are refugees fleeing persecution in their home country. He also said there was a "strong nexus" between the suspects but would not confirm whether they were blood-related. "This particular group is transient in nature, so it's very hard for us to narrow (down) on them because they ... move quickly," Shunmugam said. "All I can say is that they live together (and) move together in most occurrences." Shunmugam said the thieves are exploiting people's trust and that victims have been emotionally impacted, with one recent victim saying she feels too traumatized to leave her home. "Don't let people in your personal space," he said. "If somebody is ... overtly friendly to you and trying to enter and breach your personal space by confusing you, tell them to stop and (that) you will call police." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2025. Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
North Battleford councillor resigns after pleading guilty to assault
A North Battleford city councillor has resigned his seat after pleading guilty to assault last month. Ross MacAngus, who was re-elected for a second term on North Battleford council on Nov. 13, 2024, entered a guilty plea to a single count of assault at the Court of King's Bench in North Battleford last month. Battlefords RCMP said last year they received a report of a sexual assault in September 2024. After an investigation, a man from North Battleford was charged with sexual assault on Nov. 26, RCMP said. The City of North Battleford and its council issued a joint statement soon after, saying "transparency is one of the fundamental core values of the city." That statement said MacAngus had been charged with a criminal offence, but without a conviction there was no basis to remove him from council. Last month, the sexual assault charge against MacAngus was withdrawn after the councillor pleaded guilty to assault. Late Monday, the City of North Battleford said MacAgnus had resigned as councillor for "personal reasons." His resignation triggers a municipal byelection for the vacant seat. The byelection must be held within six months, and a proposed date for that vote will be brought forward at a council meeting in September, the city said. MacAgnus will remain a councillor until the end of this month. A sentencing hearing on his assault conviction is set for Sept. 4.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 Canadian soldiers suspended after Nazi salute video emerges
The Canadian Army is now dealing with another incident of alleged hateful conduct that involves Quebec-based soldiers caught on video allegedly partying while some people at the event delivered Nazi salutes. In a statement, Lt.-Gen. Mike Wright, the commander of the army, said the video was brought to his attention on Aug. 6, and an immediate internal investigation was launched "to determine the breadth and scope of the incident." Military police have also been notified, he added. Although the video shows several individuals, Wright said at least five of them have been identified as serving members of the Canadian Army. Those soldiers have been suspended from military duties pending an investigation by the unit. "One individual can be seen performing drill in front of the Royal 22e Régiment flag and then consuming a substance," Wright said in the written statement. "At one point in the video, other individuals perform the Nazi salute. Although I have been made aware that these events happened in 2023, these members remain subject to administrative and disciplinary action that may lead to their release." The statement, released by the Department of National Defence on Tuesday, was light on specifics and didn't say whether the accused soldiers were all regular or reserve force members, nor precisely how the video came to the army's attention. 4 charged in separate case Earlier this summer, a terrorism case emerged in Quebec where two serving soldiers, a former member and a civilian who is also a former cadet instructor, were accused in an extremist, anti-government plot that allegedly involved taking over a parcel of land. The men are accused of stockpiling an arsenal of highly restricted weapons and military equipment, including some of the latest night-vision gear. The department said none of the equipment came from its inventory. The RCMP in July charged Simon Angers-Audet, 24, Raphaël Lagacé, 25, and Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, with facilitating a terrorist activity, and other offences related to the illegal storage of firearms and possession of explosives and prohibited devices. A fourth man — Matthew Forbes, 33 — is accused of weapons offences. DND has acknowledged that Forbes and Chabot were active members of the military at the time of their arrest on July 8. In addition, two investigations, one internal and one by military police, are underway into a separate incident involving a now-defunct Facebook group where members of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) allegedly posted hateful and inappropriate content. "Hateful conduct and extremism have no place in the Canadian Army. It hurts our ability to recruit the best of Canada, to maintain credibility to deliver on operations, and it erodes public trust in our institution," Wright said in his statement. "Canadian Army members who jeopardize that trust and participate in hateful conduct will face the consequences of their actions.''
