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Halton police arrest two in connection with 300+ mausoleum thefts across the GTA
Halton police have arrested and charged two people in connection with a series of thefts at mausoleums and cemeteries across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Officers believe the pair are responsible for more than 300 thefts from cremation niches in Oakville, Burlington, Toronto and the Niagara region.
The accused targeted jewelry, decorative cremation urns, keepsakes and other valuables stored in the niches.
Investigators say the thefts took place during the day. The accused would use a tool to enter niche compartments and steal jewelry or other property, including necklaces and jewelry containing human remains. The human remains were discarded by the thieves after the thefts, say the police.
According to police, they sold the stolen jewelry at pawnshops or through private sales.
On Nov. 7, authorities arrested two people at a motel in Niagara Falls.
A search warrant was also executed at the motel and on an associated vehicle, which resulted in the recovery of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and other stolen property.
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John Ruch, 45, of no fixed address, has been charged with the following 28 offences:
- Indignity to a Dead Body (three counts)
- Theft Under $5,000 (19 counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
- Possession of Break-In Instruments
- Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
- Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 (three counts)
Jordan Noble, 31, of no fixed address, has been charged with the following 25 offences:
- Indignity to a Dead Body (three counts)
- Theft Under $5,000 (19 counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
- Possession of Break-In Instruments
- Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
Additional charges are anticipated as investigators work to identify further victims and catalog the recovered property. At this time, authorities believe there may be additional victims who have not yet discovered that a theft has occurred at their niche.
Detectives say hundreds of recovered items are currently being catalogued and will be returned to affected families throughout the GTA.
Mausoleums targeted in Halton include those at Glen Oaks Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery in Oakville, Bayview Cemetery and Crematorium in Burlington and Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Burlington.
Authorities say that many stolen items may have already been sold or melted down for resale.
Anyone who believes they may have had items stolen from a mausoleum niche in recent months is asked to contact the mausoleum itself and police at mausoleumthefts@haltonpolice.ca with the name(s) of the deceased, details and descriptions of stolen items, as well as the location and approximate time of theft.
Individuals with information regarding this investigation are asked to contact police at 905-825-4777, ext. 2216.
Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or on their website.
