**HEARST OPP NEWS RELEASE**

On September 20, 2018, at approximately 5:15 a.m. Hearst officers of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a theft occurrence on Cloutier Road South in the Town of Hearst, Ontario where items, including credit cards, had been stolen from a motor vehicle.

Police investigation revealed that the suspect had been using the credit cards fraudulently at numerous locations between Hearst, Ontario and Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario.

The suspect was located and arrested near the Town of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Simon KURGAN, 29 years of age, from Leduc, Alberta has been charged with the following offences:

  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada (CC)
  • Two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) CC
  • 12 counts of Fraud Under $5000 contrary to section 380(1)(b) CC

The accused has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cochrane on September 26, 2018.

Any person with information regarding the person(s) responsible for theft incidents should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit your information on-line at www.p3tips.com. You may earn up to $2000 in cash for information leading to an arrest.