A Guelph-Eramosa couple’s crime spree unraveled as police recovered a trove of stolen goods—including jewelry, electronics, and a family’s cremated pet remains—snatched from a south-end home and cars at dog walking trails across Guelph and Wellington County.
Guelph Police kicked off the hunt earlier this year, zeroing in on a man linked to a string of property crimes. A brazen break-in at a south Guelph home saw $10,000 in jewelry and electronics vanish, alongside a pet’s ashes—a gut punch for the owners. Then, earlier this month, a vehicle break-in netted a purse packed with bank cards and ID, which the thief quickly turned into prepaid credit cards at a nearby grocery store, police say.
The breakthrough came March 13: cops nabbed the suspect and clawed back some loot. Search warrants on a vehicle and home uncovered more—stolen purses, wallets, IDs from trailhead parking lots, plus the precious pet remains and jewelry. On Thursday, police announced charges against the 41-year-old man: break-and-enter, theft, mischief, credit card fraud, identity theft, and more. He’s due in bail court Friday. His 33-year-old partner faces stolen property and probation breach charges, with a May 2 court date.
The pet ashes and other items are back where they belong, but police are still sleuthing to match more recovered goods to their owners. For one family, it’s a bittersweet reunion—grief eased, but the hunt for justice rolls on.