The first burglary took place on September 3 and the second on September 7.
The suspect, 35-year-old Reba Stevens, was arrested on the afternoon of September 8 and faces a number of theft-related charges.
Full text of press release issued by Sault Ste. Marie OPP regarding these incidents is as follows:
BATCHEWANA FIRST NATION – On September 6, 2022 at approximately 12:30 p.m., members of the Batchewana First Nation Police Service responded to a break and enter report at the local Bingo Hall on Gran Street in the Batchewana First Nation Community.
Officers obtained video from the Bingo Hall and identified a person who entered the building shortly after 9:30 p.m. on September 3, 2022. The subject hid in a restroom and left the building at approximately 1:54 a.m. on September 4, 2022.
The stolen property is valued at less than $5,000 and is still under investigation.
On September 7, 2022 shortly after 8:30 a.m., members from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to yet another break and enter in the Batchewana First Nation community that occurred sometime overnight at an office building in the 500 block of Gran Street.
Video was taken and the same suspect from the Bingo Hall break and enter was the same person in that office building. The suspect was in the building for over two hours. The individual was seen leaving shortly after 3:30 a.m. on September 7, 2022, pulling a cart of boxes out of the building along with two large bags filled with items.
The property stolen was electronic property, including laptops and Chrome laptops. The property is valued at over $6,000 and is still under investigation.
On September 8, 2022 shortly after 4:00 p.m., police located the suspect in the community and an arrest was made. As a result, Reba Stevens, 35 years old from Batchewana First Nation was charged with: • Break, Enter a Place – Commit Indictable Afunction, contrary to section 348(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (CC) (two counts ) • Theft over $5,000, contrary to CC § 334(a) • Theft under $5,000, contrary to § 334(b) • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, contrary to Sec. 354(1)(a) of the CC • Impersonation with intent, contrary to Article 351(2) of the CC • Bad – hinders, interrupts or interferes with the lawful use, enjoyment or exploitation of property, contrary to Article 430(1) c) of CC • Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Opioid (other than heroin), contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste Marie on October 3, 2022.
Assisting in these two break and enter investigations are members from the Sault Ste Marie OPP Crime Unit and the OPP’s Forensic Identification Services (FIS).
Anyone with information regarding these break and enters should immediately contact the Batchewana First Nation Police Service or the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
