6 days ago
Toronto man allegedly steals a Sea-Doo and illegally crosses Canada-U.S. border
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Taylor said the U.S. Coast Guard still has the Sea-Doo. 'They said give them a few days and then they'll contact us to pick it up,' he said. 'We don't know what shape it's in it yet but we'll see and then we'll go from there.'
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Taylor said this is the first time something like this has happened in the four years that Gordons Watersports has been in business.
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'We tell renters where the invisible border line is and to stay on Canadian waters and definitely do not cross the border into the States,' he said. The distance between the two countries is quite small, just a few hundred metres across the St. Clair River between Sarnia and Port Huron, Michigan.
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The case is reminiscent of one just a few days earlier, when police in LaSalle, Ont., opposite Detroit, Michigan, noticed a a man at the water's edge with two backpacks and a kayak.
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'The officer investigated and discovered the man was attempting to illegally enter Canada,' police said. A 51-year-old from the U.S. was turned over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
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For Gordon, however, 'this is definitely a first, a first and a last, that's what we're hoping. It's been an eventful and a little stressful weekend for us but we're trying to make the best out of the horrible situation.'
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Indeed, the Facebook page for Gordons Watersports is playing up the lighter side of the affair. A post on Tuesday morning included the line 'catch waves, not warrants,' and reminded renters to 'keep it fun and legal,' adding: 'Gordons Watersports — where the only thing you'll be crossing is the wake.'
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It also thanked 'our staff, border control, and law enforcement for their quick action in … this very rare case of an illegal entry to the U.S.'
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By Tuesday afternoon an additional post invited visitors to answer the question: 'Why did Romeo cross illegally?' It suggested 'To find his Juliet,' 'Audition for Fast and Furious Sea-Doo Drift' and 'Heard Tim Hortons was out of Timbits.' Best answer gets a $50 gift card.