Arrest Made in Gallery Theft

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Aaron Sherman, of Toronto (left) was arrested yesterday by Toronto Police in relation to the gallery theft. The unidentified suspect on the right remains outstanding. Images: Toronto Police Service handout.

Toronto Police have made an arrest in connection with the Odon Wagner Gallery burglary two weeks ago, according to a police news release today.

Aaron Sherman, 43, of Toronto, was arrested yesterday and charged with break and enter, mischief, and two counts of failing to comply with probation. Another suspect remains outstanding, and police have not recovered the three missing paintings, alleged to be valued at $73,000.

A January 2007 Toronto Police 53 division community bulletin issued by Staff Inspector Larry Sinclair mentions an Aaron Sherman, then 38, of no fixed address, having been arrested in relation to a remarkably similar crime, a smash-and-grab style burglary at a mid-town Toronto Blockbuster video store that occurred the previous October. The bulletin mentions that the culprit was identified through DNA evidence left at the scene when the suspect suffered a cut from broken glass on entering the premises.

In the art crime community there is often much speculation that art thieves are sophisticated criminals acting on behalf of eccentric, wealthy art collectors. It would appear that in the Odon Wagner Gallery theft, the suspect in the alleged burglary was merely a rounder with an unsophisticated method of stealing property.

Sherman was scheduled to appear in College Park court today for a bail hearing. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Art Thieves Hit Yorkville Again

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Wellesley Consulting Services

"Wild Fields" by Greg Harris, one of three paintings stolen last week from a Yorkville gallery. Image: Toronto Police Service handout.

The Odon Wagner Gallery in Yorkville was broken into last week and three paintings valued at $73,000 were stolen, according to Toronto Police.

Continue reading →

Hundreds of Charges in Recent GTA Frauds

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Wellesley Consulting Services

The Canadian Press reported today that eight east GTA residents are charged with about 100 charges in relation to an ATM fraud investigation.

(Photo: Toronto Police Service website)

Police arrested individuals in Oshawa, Markham, Pickering and Toronto, and laid charges for fraud, identity theft, counterfeit credit cards, and organized-crime related offences. A full list of names and charges has not yet been released, and police say the investigation is continuing.

This latest multiple-victim fraud comes on the heels of another major Toronto-area fraud investigation involving a 30-year-old man who allegedly targeted seniors in a snow-removal scam.

Initially, Elman Iakhiiaev (pictured) was charged with only a handful of counts, but after Toronto Police announced the charges, further victims came forward. He is charged with over 100 counts of fraud for soliciting payments in advance from Toronto residents to remove snow from their properties, but he allegedly never returned to do the work.

And now, police also allege he entered into a contract with a North York restaurant to provide menus and signs, but after receiving a deposit he failed to do any work in that case as well.

Crossbow Killing in Library, 1 Arrested

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Toronto Police responded to a shooting call yesterday at an east-end Toronto library, and arrested a 24 year-old man.

Media are reporting that a man was shot with a crossbow inside the Main Street Library, near Gerrard Street, after an interaction with another man. Witnesses told the media the second man allegedly fled into a U-Haul truck shortly afterwards.

Crossbows, other than pistol-style ones, are an uncontrolled weapon under Canadian law. When the original bill C-68 amended the Criminal Code and introduced the Firearms Act, a possession and acquisition licence was necessary to acquire a crossbow, but not required to own one. The law has since been amended, and criminal use of crossbows remains rare.

However, last week near Boston, a teen was arrested after allegedly firing a crossbow at a car that shattered a window. Recently, in the UK, a crossbow was believed to have been used in one of three killings of prostitutes near Bradford.

ATM Skimming Continues

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Toronto Police are asking for public assistance in solving an alleged ATM tampering fraud that occurred recently. (Toronto Police Service supplied photo)

Toronto Police are looking for a suspect after a skimming device was discovered by a customer using a bank’s ATM on November 13, 2010.

According to a police news release, while using the ATM, “a piece of the machine became detached” and the customer became suspicious, and contacted police.

Many banks have upgraded their ATM equipment to resist this type of tampering. CIBC, for example, uses a lighted card slot that makes it difficult to attach a device over or in front of, without noticing.

In one case, an older model of Scotiabank ATM used frequently by a regular customer was discovered to have been tampered with because the light, which had been burnt out of a long period of time, had suddenly been replaced on a weekend. In that case, the light was found to be a battery powered add-on that concealed a pinhole camera, which led to the discovery of the card-reader attached over the usual card slot. The keypad shield had also been removed.

In the November 13 case, police have released a photo of the suspect. The images appear to be taken by the ATM’s security camera. Police are asking anyone with information to contact 13 division at 416-808-1300, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).