Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Asphalt Paving Scams

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Fraud Unit would like to provide consumers with the following information to prevent being victimized by “door to door” asphalt paving scams.

Sunny days bring home repairs scams. If a seemingly nice “contractor” stops by your home or business with an offer to repair your driveway, watch out. Scammers have been reported in communities across Southern Ontario and most recently in the Sault Ste. Marie area.

These cons offer a great low price and claim they have just enough asphalt left over from a job nearby. The representatives are usually polite and persuasive and are operating businesses in marked vehicles.
Legitimate contractors don’t seek work door to door. Before you hire a contractor, read these tips and check if the business is legally registered:

 Ask for references and check them.
 Never sign a blank contract, ask and have the contract clearly spelled out in writing.
 Never sign a contract without taking time to review the details, and don’t be rushed to sign something to take advantage of a “time limited offer”.

Ask the contractor to provide the following:

 Revenue Canada GST Number
 Provincial Prepaid Contractor’s Licence
 Proof of Liability Insurance

The following two persons will be appearing in bail court this morning:

1) 26 year-old Anthony Bekintis of 800 Great Northern Road was arrested at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Center on the 14th of August at 11 am on an outstanding warrant, charged with one count of failing to appear court from the 4th of April.

2) A 37 year-old male was arrested on the 15th of August around 2:34 am at the city police station and charged with one count of mischief over $5,000.00. It is alleged that on the 8th of August the accused attended at a centrally located address that his ex-girlfriend was at and removed air from the tires of her vehicle that was parked in the driveway. An argument ensued and police attended.

Impaired Driving

53 year-old Richard Paradis of 4128 Queen Street East was arrested on the 14th of August at 5 pm on Wellington Street East and charged with one count of impaired driving and one count of consume over the legal limit. City police were called to a three vehicle collision on the 14th of August around 4:35 pm on Wellington Street East. It is alleged that the accused was driving his Hyundai vehicle westbound on Wellington Street East when he struck an eastbound Volvo from behind that had stopped behind a Chev Avalanche that was turning into a driveway, causing it to collide with the Avalanche. When police attended and spoke with the accused they discovered that he was under the influence of alcohol. There were no injuries reported and there was minor damage to the vehicles. The accused is to appear in court on the 24th of September.

The following break and enters were reported yesterday:

1) A residence on Tancred Street was entered sometime between the 9th of August and the 14th of August. Some liquor was reported stolen.

2) There was an attempt break and enter reported to a residence on Albert Street East that occurred sometime overnight on the 14th of August.