Crime & Fraud: 1)Armed home invasion in Alcona; 2)Teen charged after high-speed driving in Barrie, suspects steal vehicle; 3)Individual seen on-camera near chiropractor’s office fire identified and spoken to police; 4)Auto thefts down 18% year-over-year while recovery remains low: report; 5)OPP nab SUV fraud suspect at Alliston dealership; 6)Barrie resident arrives home to find a stranger in the garage; 7)Barrie man charged with impaired following multiple crashes; 8)From Essa to Clearview, prohibited driver leads police on chase

1)Armed home invasion in Alcona; suspects steal vehicle

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, Feb 12, 2026

A violent home invasion in Alcona.

On Feb. 7, at around 2 a.m., South Simcoe Police (SSP) responded to a report of a home invasion in the area of Ferguson Street and Benson Street.

“Four suspects, armed with firearms and wearing masks, forced entry into the residence, confined the occupants, and stole various items, including a vehicle parked in the driveway. The suspects fled the scene in separate vehicles, one of which was the stolen vehicle,” police said in a news release.

Responding officers spotted one of the suspect vehicles travelling westbound on Benson Street. The vehicle stopped after striking a snowbank, and the lone occupant fled on foot and was not located, despite police bringing in the canine unit and setting up a perimeter. The vehicle was recovered and is being held pending the execution of a search warrant.

Police said the vehicle that was stolen from the residence in Alcona was later recovered by Ontario Provincial Police in Cobourg after being stopped by officers.

The incident in Alcona appears to be isolated, said police, and they added the occupants of the residence were not harmed and there is no ongoing risk to public safety.

SSP is asking anyone with information or who may have surveillance camera footage from Feb. 7, 2026, in the area of Ferguson Street and Benson Street, and Hunter Street and Swan Street between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. to contact South Simcoe Police Service at 1-905-775-3311 ext 1461 or email: investigations@southsimcoepolice.ca.

The public can also remain anonymous and contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or submit information online at https://www.crimestopperssdm.com/

2) Teen charged after high-speed driving in Barrie

Courtesy Barrie360.com By Ian MacLennan, February 12, 2026

Police said a vehicle travelling at a high speed and passing vehicles on Big Bay Point Road caught the attention of officers on Tuesday.

A traffic stop was conducted in the area of Big Bay Point Road and Bayview Drive around 9 p.m. The driver, a 17-year-old male from Essa Township, was clocked travelling 89 km/h in a posted 50 km/h zone.

He was presented with a speeding ticket under the Highway Traffic Act. “The Barrie Police Service urges all drivers to prioritize safety by adhering to posted speed limits. Excessive speeding not only endangers you but also puts others at risk,” police said in a news release.

3) Individual seen on-camera near chiropractor’s office fire identified and spoken to police

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Julius Hern, Feb. 12, 2026

A person seen on camera in relation to structure fire Tuesday morning that gutted a chiropractor office in Barrie has been spoken to, according to Barrie Police.

The service had said on Wednesday they were seeking the individual seen on video surveillance footage around the time the fire started as they may have witnessed the incident.

On Tuesday, the fire occurred at the site on Essa Road around 5:30 a.m. Fire investigators determined the fire started in a shed located behind the building and spread.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at the business just southwest of Burton Avenue and encountered flames shooting through the roof of the structure.
Barrie Police say the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Const. Lucas Colameco.

4)Auto thefts down 18% year-over-year while recovery remains low: report

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Alessia Passafiume, Feb. 11, 2026

The number of vehicles stolen in Canada fell sharply last year but there were still almost 47,000 such thefts reported and more than a third of those were never recovered, says a new report released Wednesday.

The analysis by Équité Association, a non-profit anti-fraud group, shows Canadians reported 46,999 auto thefts in 2025, compared with 57,359 in 2024 — an 18 per cent decrease.

It’s down 33 per cent compared with 2023 when more than 70,000 vehicles were stolen.

However Équité also said the financial impact of auto thefts remains high, with insurance claims in 2025 reaching an estimated $900 million.

“The good news is we have seen a reduction in the number of vehicles (stolen), but I would say that we still have a long way to go,” said Bryan Gast, vice president of investigative services for Équité Association.

“The numbers are still high. Organized crime is still targeting Canadian vehicles.”

In 2024, the federal government announced a new national action plan to “disrupt, dismantle and prosecute” the organized crime groups behind auto thefts through tougher criminal penalties, more inspections of shipping containers and better intelligence-sharing.

The report says while the strategy appears to be working, Canadians remain vulnerable to car theft rings and a spike in vehicle finance fraud detected at ports in Montreal and Halifax.

Quebec saw the largest reduction in auto thefts — 25 per cent — followed by Ontario at 22 per cent and Western Canada at 11 per cent.

Atlantic Canada saw the smallest reduction — just two per cent. Gast attributes that statistic to the fact that there are simply fewer vehicles in the region to steal — despite the role the Port of Halifax plays in shipping stolen vehicles out of the country.

While the number of thefts dropped, the rate of recovery for stolen vehicles remains low, the report found, at 59 per cent nationally. In the two biggest provinces, Ontario and Quebec, only about half of the vehicles stolen are ever recovered.

The report says the missing stolen vehicles have likely been exported or dismantled in “chop shops.”

At 71 per cent, Alberta’s rate of stolen vehicle recovery tops those of Quebec and Ontario — but the province continues to serve as a “feeder province” where stolen vehicles from other regions are registered, the report said.

Gast said industry and governments should be working together to make vehicles harder to steal.

He said organized crime groups are employing old tactics — dismantling vehicles to sell for parts, shipping them overseas — and engaging in fraudulent financing that affects banks and insurance companies.

“One of my big concerns beyond the financial loss is what these criminals are doing with these proceeds … $900 million in 2025 is what’s up for grabs,” Gast said.

“This is not just a victimless crime. It’s not just a property crime. They’re profiting from it. They are using the proceeds to fund their criminal operations.”

A House of Commons committee on public safety studied the federal government’s auto strategy and presented it with more than two dozen recommendations.

Responding to that report in January, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the federal government agreed with 22 of the committee’s recommendations — including its call for stronger measures against money laundering and terrorist financing, and for more robust intelligence-sharing with law enforcement partners.

Anandasangaree wrote the government agrees in principle with another nine recommendations, is requesting further study of 10 and disagrees with three. One of those is a call for amendments to the Customs Act to change how containers can be searched, and to require that exporters present shipping documents at least 72 hours before departure.

Gast said Canadians can protect their vehicles by parking them in a garage and by using a steering wheel or pedal lock and an aftermarket immobilizer and tracking device.

“You don’t have to use them all, but … you can do something just to make your vehicle less appealing and less of a target,” Gast said.

5)OPP nab SUV fraud suspect at Alliston dealership

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, February 11, 2026

A suspect in a fraud investigation did not get to drive the vehicle off the dealership lot, but he did get arrested.

OPP were contacted on Monday about a fraud incident at the Trillium Ford dealership in Alliston. The complainant told officers there was an appointment for the next day for a person to pick up a new 2026 Lincoln Navigator Sierra SUV valued at $143,000.

Police allege the person bought the vehicle using falsified information and had placed a down payment using a credit card that did not belong to them.

When the suspect attended the dealership on Tuesday, police were waiting and took him into custody.

A 52-year-old from Niagara Falls was charged with:

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

6)Barrie resident arrives home to find a stranger in the garage

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, February 9, 2026

A Barrie resident returned home around 7:30 Friday evening to find someone in the garage.

Described as a “tall unknown individual dressed all in dark clothing,” the caller told police the suspect fled into the Primrose Crescent home, in the area of Ardagh Road and Mapleton Avenue, through an entryway in the garage. The homeowner remained outside.

When officers arrived, they determined the suspect initially gained entry by smashing a sliding glass door.

Officers, along with K9 and the Tactical Support Unit, searched the property but did not find anyone, who it’s believed left the residence through the same sliding door and fled through the backyard and into a wooded area.

It’s believed the suspect fled onto Ardagh Road, possibly heading eastbound toward Grants Way. It’s unknown if a vehicle was involved.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity or person(s) in the area or anyone with information, including home security or dash cam video, to contact the investigating officer via email zbeaumont@barriepolice.ca.

7)Barrie man charged with impaired following multiple crashes

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, February 9, 2026

Barrie police have charged a man with impaired driving and other offences following a series of collisions.

Around 6 p.m. on Friday, police received a call about two men who had been drinking at a Fairview Road establishment and then left in a vehicle.

While responding, police got another report that the same car crashed near Mapleton Drive and Silvercreek Crescent.

During the investigation, officers learned the vehicle was initially involved in a collision at the intersection of Ardagh Road and Hawkins Drive, where it rear-ended another vehicle. Witnesses told police the vehicle left the scene heading westbound on Ardagh Road and turned onto Batteaux Street, proceeding to the intersection of Mapleton Avenue and Silvercreek Crescent.

Police said the driver failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with two additional vehicles.

When officers arrived, an individual had detained the passenger, while the driver refused to leave the vehicle.

During the chat with the driver, police detected a strong odour of alcohol, and they found several containers of booze in plain view inside the vehicle.

The driver, a 36-year-old from Barrie, was taken to police headquarters, where a breath technician administered a breathalyzer test, which revealed he was 2.5 times over the legal alcohol limit.

The accused was charged with:

The passenger, a 35-year-old male from Barrie, is charged with being intoxicated in a public place.

No serious injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.

“Police continue to remind the public of the dangers and legal consequences of impaired and reckless driving. Barrie police remain committed to ensuring the safety of all road users,” police stated in a news release.

8)From Essa to Clearview, prohibited driver leads police on chase

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, February 6, 2026

A prohibited driver from Barrie is facing several charges after Ontario Provincial Police were alerted around 8:30 Wednesday morning about a possible impaired driver in Essa Township.

Police said officers located the vehicle a short time later, and when attempt was made to stop the car, it sped off.

About an hour later, police were notified that the vehicle had arrived at a construction site in Clearview Township. Four occupants fled from the vehicle. Police located the driver hiding behind a building. The person attempted to flee on foot but was arrested after a brief foot chase. Three passengers were eventually located and found not be involved in the driving offences.

The 45-year-old motorist was charged with impaired driving, operating while prohibited, flight from a peace officer and fail to comply with a probation order.

The accused was held for a bail hearing.

His driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days, and their vehicle was impounded for 45 days.