An ATV, dirt bike, tools and beer were all pilfered from garages across Muskoka as part of a one-man crimewave, a Bracebridge court heard recently.
On Tuesday, Shawn Harwood, 29, of Lake of Bays pleaded guilty to a range of offences including multiple counts of theft over $5,000, theft under $5,000 and breaching court-ordered terms. He also pleaded guilty to mischief for his part in an October 2021 incident in Lake of Bays that involved him smashing in the taillight of a vehicle, and another party firing a gun into the air.
Court heard that in July of 2021 the Huntsville OPP launched an investigation into a string of break and enters that had occurred across the region. As a result of the investigation, police were able to determine that Harwood had broken into a number of garages over the past several months. It was determined he had stolen a wide range of times including a 2021 ATV, a Honda dirt bike, various tools, beer, money and a chainsaw. The thefts occurred at residences in Bracebridge, Huntsville and Lake of Bays Township.
In one instance Harwood was caught in the act on video and in another instance, the victim was able to get his license plate number.
Court heard that in a separate incident on Oct. 21, 2021, the police received a call about a man on a dirt bike chasing another person in Lake of Bays Township. The caller reported that shots were fired and a female had a firearm. Court heard the incident led to a crash between the dirtbike, which Harwood was driving, and the car. Harwood then smashed the taillights of the car with an unknown item.
The woman who had fired the gun said the vehicle had been at their residence and they believed it was suspicious and fired a warning shot. She was also charged in relation to the incident.
It turned out that at the time of the incident Harwood was out after a court-ordered curfew and riding a stolen dirt bike.
Harwood was ultimately sentenced to 12 months in jail, less time served in pre-trial custody.
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Phil Beacock says
He has a past as well i understand! Now if our justice system will keep him in jail for the full time allotted, lol, not likely to happen, but if it does good! Oh ya less time served! There you go, justice at its finest, police take the time to do it right, and the judges feel sorry for him, and the revolving door!