News

From the Cruiser - Barrington Report April 2026

Created: Friday, 10 April 2026 16:04

“From the Cruiser” is an initiative to keep residents informed of policing activities in their area.
Residents are reminded to call the RCMP if they have a crime to report or questions related to
policing in their community.

The Barrington RCMP Detachment is fully staffed with all positions filled at this time. Across
Western Shelburne County, for the Forth Quarter, there were 424 calls for service. This is down
from 508 calls during the same period in 2025, and up from 213 calls in 2024.

The following numbers reflect the calls for service from January 1st, 2026 to March 31st, 2026:
CALLS BY CRIME TYPE FOR THE BARRINGTON DETACHMENT AREA Q4:

Assault: 10 reported which is down from 16 the previous year.
Harassment/Threats: 22 reported which is up from 17 the previous year.
Sex Assaults: 3 reported which is up from 1 the previous year.
Break and Enter: 1 reported which is down from 3 the previous year.
Fraud: 1 reported which is down from 8 the previous year.
Mischief: 18 reported which is up from 17 the pervious year.
Theft of Vehicle: 2 reported which is down 3 the previous year.
Theft Over $5000: 0 reported which is down from 2 the previous year.
Theft Under $5000: 6 reported which is down from 7 the previous year.
Assistance/911:18 reported which is down from 24 the previous year.
Mental Health: 15 reported which is up from 11 the previous year.
Well Being Checks: 11 reported which is down from 20 the previous year.
Sudden Deaths: 2 reported which is down from 7 the previous year.

Please note details about certain calls for service cannot be included in this report due to privacy
reasons and to protect investigational integrity. The following will touch on certain crime types.
Those crime types that are minor in nature will not be highlighted.

Assault: Ten (10) assaults were reported, five (5) of these investigations results in criminal charges.
Domestic Violence continues to be an issue in our community. Female spouses/partners are still in
the highest risk category for being the victim of DV/IP assaults and Statistics Canada indicates that
2 out of every 5 women will be the victim of Domestic Violence in their lifetime. If you need to talk to
someone, please call the Nova Scotia Domestic Violence Support Line at 1-855-225-0220. If you
are the victim of ongoing DV/IP abuse, please call 911 or reach out to the number provided to talk
with a member of Transition House. Their site is: www.sheltersafe.ca

Break and Enter: One (1) reported during this quarter. This file was investigated. The victim of this
incident did not wish to proceed with charges.

Harassment/Threats: Twenty-two (22) were reported with three (3) being cleared by criminal
charge. Many cases of harassment involve the use of social media applications. People are
reminded to exercise caution when communicating on social media. Parents, especially, need to
manage their child/teen’s use of mobile/smart devices not only for threats or harassment but for
such things as bullying and possible predators. A recommended site for parents to access is
www.mediasmarts.ca which is Canada’s Centre for Digital Media Literacy. As well the Province of
Nova Scotia have developed Cyber Scan. This resource is for victims of cyber bullying. This
program lays out the process to obtain a cyber-protection order. For further information please
access this program through Province of Nova Scotia website. www.novascotia.ca

Sex Assault: Three (3) were reported. One (1) investigation was cleared as the victim did not wish
to proceed. Two (2) are currently under investigation.

Mental Health Act: Fifteen (15) were reported where officers assisted in providing support to
subjects. None of these calls for service were criminal in nature.
NOTE: If you or a family member/friend feel you are in crisis or going through a difficult time and
your mental health is suffering, there are several support programs via Nova Scotia Mental Health
and Addictions. These include:
• Community Support Service for Child and Adolescent
• Opioid Recovery Program
• Community Support Service for Adults
• Adult Community Mental Health and Addiction Services
To access these services please call 1-855-922-1122 or visit
www.mha.nshealth.ca/en/clinics/roseway-hospital

Theft: Six (6) thefts were reported. Three (3) of these thefts were reported by local businesses. All
businesses in this case took measures outside of criminal charges. One (1) was a theft of an
outboard motor. The other two (2) were investigated but complainants in both cases did not wish
to proceed with criminal charges.

Traffic: Of the 424 calls for service received during this quarter 46% accounted for traffic related
complaints and enforcement efforts. See below for charges and warnings.
Theft of Motor Vehicle: Two (2) vehicle thefts were reported. One (1) vehicle was successfully
recovered and returned to the owner. The second complaint was unfounded or deemed that the
reported theft did not happen.

Wellbeing Checks: Eleven (11) well being checks were reported. Officers aided complainants in
these cases.

Mischief: Eighteen (18) mischief complaints were reported. All files reported were either minor
damage or someone in dispute over property.

Suspicious Persons/Vehicles: Five (5) suspicious persons complaints were made. All of these
were investigated, all had valid explanations with no criminality involved.

Sudden Death: Two (2) sudden deaths were report. All were investigated with no criminal
involvement.

Road Safety: Traffic related incidents are still the greatest risk to all residents in Shelburne County.

The Shelburne District RCMP have increased their enforcement and education efforts accordingly.
During the Fourth Quarter there were 195 motor vehicle related complaints and enforcement. The
following is a breakdown of our enforcement efforts:
• 80 Summary Offence Tickets (SOTs)
• 150 Warnings
• 5 Roadside Suspensions
• 4 Impaired Drivers Charged

VEHICLE SECURITY: As a reminder for all residents...
• Lock your vehicle when it is unattended.
• Do not leave your vehicle running while you exit to complete errands.
• Never leave your keys in your vehicle overnight.
• Whether at home or in a parking lot, always park in a well-lit area.
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle that are easily viewed from outside. If going for a
hike or other activity, lock valuables in the trunk.
• Do not hide your spare key under the seat or over a visor or in glove box. These are
common places to look.
• Most new vehicles have built-in alarm systems when you lock the doors so make sure you
do so.

• If your vehicle does not have an internal GPS tracking system, inexpensive “air tags” or
GPS gadgets can be utilized.
• The longer it takes a suspect to steal a vehicle, the less likely it will occur. Don’t make it
easy for them!
• If you experience a vehicle theft, call 911 to report as soon as possible.
For Home/Property Security:
• Invest in good lighting around your property. Motion Sensor lights are inexpensive and are a
great deterrence against crime.
• Make sure you don’t leave your home unlocked when you are away or at work. Those days
are unfortunately gone.
• Invest in solid door locks such as dead bolts to lock your property.
• Many people are now investing in keypad locks so the doors lock automatically and no key
needs to be hidden under the door mat etc.
• Home alarm systems and surveillance cameras can be easily purchased and are
affordable for homeowners these days.
• Trail Cameras are another means of protecting your home and post a sign saying that your
property has an alarm or cameras.
• Make sure you list your valuable items and serial numbers just in case they are stolen. This
will enable police to better identify when found.
• If you have a shed or garage, make sure you have a strong locking system and have that
area well lighted like your home.
• Make an inventory of your tools and machines and like the vehicle tips above, utilize an Air
Tag to track your ATV or other valuables just in case they are taken.
• If you are away for any period, invest in a light timer so lights turn off and on. Have
someone check on your property and pick up mail etc. Set your alarm and advise the alarm
company.
• Don’t advertise on social media as to going on trips or a new purchase or the door is
broken etc. so many people spread these tid-bits of information around, making you a
target.
• If you experience any thefts or a break and enter, call the RCMP as soon as possible. Don’t
touch or move anything until police have a look to see if there is any evidence for their
forensic team.

Illicit Drug Activity: The Shelburne District RCMP continue to work on illicit drug
investigations. Residents of the Barrington Municipality are encouraged to call RCMP if they
witness what they believe is illegal activity or any other suspicious behaviour. The caller can
remain anonymous if they wish. The Southwest Nova Street Crime Enforcement Team remain
committed to the disruption of the illicit sale of drugs.

Warrants of Arrest: NOTE: When a person is formally charged with an offence, their name can
be released and is accessible to the public. Similarly, when an arrest warrant is issued by the
court, that person’s name can be released to the public to assist the police in locating and
arresting the accused.

Current Persons WANTED via Arrest Warrants issued by the Nova Scotia Provincial Court:
Bronson SYMONDS
Darious Landrelle SMITH
Alexander Blake VAN BUSKIRK
Brandon Brian BOYLAN
Megan Ann SURETTE
Chloe PARKER
Candace HURLBURT
Justin Paul ATWOOD
Christian David LASAGA
Mark Alan BOWER

If you are one of the people listed here, it is encouraged that you attend your local RCMP or Police
Detachment to turn yourself in and to avoid being arrested at an inconvenient time. Some warrants
are “Endorsed” which means the Judge has directed for the person to be arrested but then released
with new court documents. Others are “Unendorsed” which means the person is to be arrested and
held for court.

The RCMP continues to be committed to serving the residents of Shelburne County in the best
means possible. Sgt. Toope asks that if you have any concerns or ideas about new community
policing partnerships, to please reach out to your local detachment to discuss.

Thank you,
Sgt. Dave Toope
Acting District Commander
Shelburne District RCMP
199 Harriet Street
Shelburne, NS
(902) 875-2490