Two Fergus residents face 11 charges each – and possibly more – in connection with recent mail thefts after police found stolen documents and credit cards at a home here last Friday.
On April 22 at about 9:14am, OPP officers from Wellington County, South Bruce and Huron, along with Emergency Response Team officers, executed a search warrant at a house and garage on St. Patrick Street East in Fergus.
“It is a multi-jurisdictional investigation,” explained Sergeant Derrick King of the Wellington County OPP.
Police say the officers seized methamphetamines and a “large quantity of documents, identity documents, and credit cards that did not belong to the residents of the home.”
Richard Cutting, 34, and Tracy Dolmage, 35, both of Fergus, have each been charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, five counts of mail theft and five counts of mischief under $5,000.
Police say the pair could face additional charges “due to the sheer volume of stolen mail recovered.”
This is the second time Cutting has been charged in connection with mail thefts.
In February of 2014, after a string of “super mailbox” break-ins in Centre Wellington and Guelph-Eramosa, Cutting was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, resisting arrest, mischief under $5,000 and breach of undertaking.
This winter and spring there has been a rash of break-ins at community mailboxes across Wellington County and beyond, specifically in Centre Wellington, Guelph-Eramosa and Puslinch townships.
Whether the two Fergus residents charged are connected to all incidents, is still being investigated.
“We’re too early in the stages to determine that,” said King. “We’re still going through the evidence and it’s going to take some time.”
Stolen mail
Those who had mail stolen may be contacted by police in the coming months – if they can be identified.
“We’re going through all the evidence and any evidence that identifies victims of mail theft, we will be contacting them directly and letting them know we have their mail,” said King. He added police would be contacting victims “as soon as we can.”
Police say the investigation is continuing and anyone with information can call Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip at www.crimestoppersguelphwellington.com.
