Haliburton Highlands OPP is investigating after a break-and-enter at the Parkside Laundry in Dysart et al, which caused approximately $15,000 in damages.
In a press release, OPP said the suspect(s) entered the business Oct. 22 by prying open a side door. Once inside, the thieves stole an amount of cash from a bill changer.
Owner Craig Gordon said he is disappointed.
“We go out of our way to make sure there are conveniences for people to have at the laundromat,” Gordon said. “When there’s vandalism like that, it’s hard.”
Gordon said the damage amount racked up from fixing doors and replacing the bill changer. Although insurance will cover part of the cost, they are still out “quite a bit of money,” as well as time. They also plan to upgrade the security system.
Customers will also have to go without the bill changer for three weeks until a new one can be delivered.
“We did have to think long and hard about whether we even wanted to put a bill changer back in there,” Gordon said. “We don’t think it’s fair that the community or patrons that use the laundromat get penalized because one idiot decided to rob us.”
“It really kind of feels like a punch in the stomach when this happens,” Gordon said. “We live in a small town that we think we can be immune from a lot of the big city crime. When this happens, it’s a little disheartening.”
OPP said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact Haliburton Highlands OPP at 705-286-1431, the provincial communication centre at 888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers at ontariocrimestoppers.ca or 800-222-8477.
Man charged with impaired driving
Peterborough County OPP arrested and charged an Algonquin Highlands man with operating a vehicle while impaired.
In a press release, OPP said the detachment stopped a vehicle at a RIDE (reduce impaired driving everywhere) program check Oct. 26 at approximately 7 p.m. OPP said they found the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
The 46-year-old Jose Ramos of Algonquin Highlands is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on the charge Nov. 28.
(OPP news compiled by Joseph Quigley)
