Clarification regarding vigilant neighbour helping police nab thief

Updated at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 to reflect corrections from Kingston Police. Police incorrectly identified the suspects and 17 and 18 years old. They suspects are in fact 17 and 19 years old (Kingston Police had said only a 19-year-old was arrested previously, as outlined below).

On Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, Kingstonist reported that a vigilant neighbour had played an integral role in helping police arrest a 19-year-old who had been breaking into his neighbour’s car.

Since then, more information has come to light on the incident.

The following is a verbatim release from Kingston Police issued on Thursday, Sept. 13:

A 17-year-old and an 19-year-old have been arrested after breaking into cars overnight on Tuesday.

Early Wednesday morning, approximately 4:00 a.m., a resident on Sierra Avenue was alerted to his neighbour’s car alarm sounding. He looked out to see 2 young men in the next driveway. He ran outside to chase them as they ran down the street. He caught up with them and took out his phone to take their picture. The younger one lunged at him causing a brief tussle. The neighbour managed to hang on to the 19-year old and hold him for police. Shortly after 5 a.m., police were able to locate and arrest the other male.

Both accused were transported to police headquarters where they were later released on a Promise to Appear in Court.

The 19-year-old is charged with mischief, theft, possession of stolen property and prowl by night.

The 17-year-old is charged with mischief, theft, assault, and prowl by night.

However, according to residents that live in the area, the neighbour who saw the two men fleeing the area jumped in his car to chase down the suspects. He caught up with one – the elder of the two, apparently – and held him until police arrived.

Neighbours allege that the second young man returned home, where he told his mother that he had been assaulted by the man who chased him. According to those in the neighbourhood, when the mother of the second suspect contacted Kingston Police, the police were able to piece together the stories to determine those allegations were false, and that the complainant was, in fact, the second young man involved in the incident. Kingston Police media officer, Const. Kim Siemonsen, could not confirm this detail, but said if that occurred, it may have been related to the brief tussle between the 17-year-old and the neighbour who chased him.

According to one neighbour, those in the neighbourhood pooled a total of $100 and purchased a gas card for their neighbour who jumped into action when he witnessed the activity.

Original post below:

Vigilant neighbour helps police nab 19-year-old breaking into vehicle

September 12, 2018

Many of us simply tune out the sound of a car alarm in the middle of the night, but thanks to one neighbour who took the time to look around, Kingston Police were able to arrest a local man suspected of breaking into a car.

At approximately 4:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, a resident on Sierra Avenue in Kingston’s west-end Cataraqui Woods neighbourhood heard a car alarm going off nearby. When he looked out his window, the neighbour saw two young people running away from his neighbour’s car, parked in the driveway across the street. The man quickly got in his own vehicle and chased the suspects, according to Kingston Police, and was able to catch one of the two suspects. The vigilant neighbour then called police who responded and took custody of the 19-year-old. The other suspect was able to get away, according to Const. Kim Siemonsen, media relations officer for Kingston Police, although there are some conflicting reports from the public about which of the two suspects was taken into police custody.

The investigation revealed that the suspect(s) had damaged the vehicle in order to gain entry. The 19-year-old was arrested and charged with: theft under $5,000, mischief under $5,000, possession of stolen property, and prowling by night.

Those in the neighbourhood collected enough funds to purchase a $100 gas card for their diligent neighbour to thank him for his efforts.