Helicopter, canine unit used to catch candy thieves

Three teens taken into custody after Canada's Wonderland break-in

Image of video from a York Regional Police helicopter looking for three teens suspected of breaking into Canada's Wonderland. York Regional Police

Three teens were taken into custody after Canada’s Wonderland was broken into and candy stolen on April 10.

York Regional Police officers and police dogs searched the area with the help of a thermal camera in a police helicopter after Wonderland security guards reporting a break and enter at about 8 p.m.

Three teenage boys wearing dark clothing and with covered faces were found and taken into custody, police said.

Two of them are 16 years old and one is 15. All are from Vaughan, Ont.

Police found candy stolen from one of the park’s buildings.

Police decided not to press charges against the teens, and the boys were given the chance to take part on the Community Referral Program instead.

Police spokesperson Const. Andy Pattenden said the decision not to charge was up to officers on the scene.

“The youth criminal justice act asks officers to consider other alternatives other than a charge,” Pattenden said. “So the community referral program was the option that the officers chose to exercise.”

However, Pattenden denied the use of a helicopter and K-9 unit for a candy theft had been too extreme. He said that when police received the call, it had just been reported as a break and enter. The fact that the park was not yet open to public made this activity seem very suspicious.

“It’s actually an insufficient use of resources that were already deployed and already out to locate the suspects,” he said.

According to police, the teens showed remorse and cooperated with authorities.

Because the teens were underage, they were released into the custody of their parents after the theft.

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Posted: Apr 18 2017 12:34 pm
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