By: Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
The Chatham-Kent Police Service is warning residents about a rise in sophisticated vehicle thefts while also reporting a series of major arrests, violent incidents and drug seizures across the municipality over the past several days.
Police say thefts involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles have increased since December 2025, with similar incidents reported in neighbouring jurisdictions across southwestern Ontario. Vehicles stolen in Chatham-Kent include Toyota Tundra, Highlander and RAV4 models, along with several Lexus vehicles. Officers say a number of the thefts occurred even though the vehicles were locked and the owners’ key fobs were not used, leading investigators to believe suspects may be using advanced technology to gain entry and start the engines. Residents are being urged to lock their vehicles, park in well-lit areas, install security cameras, consider steering-wheel locks and add hidden tracking devices. Police are asking anyone who notices suspicious activity to contact them or Crime Stoppers.
A stabbing in the Murray Street area of Wallaceburg on March 13 prompted an immediate response from the Major Crime Team, supported by the General Investigations Unit and Community Patrol. Police say investigators quickly identified a suspect and secured key evidence. A 36-year-old Chatham-Kent woman has been charged with attempted murder. She was located on March 16 with assistance from the OPP’s Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Unit and remains in custody pending a bail hearing. Police say the incident was isolated and that the accused and victim are known to each other.
Officers also responded to a series of unrelated incidents over a 72-hour period. On March 13, police were called to a retail store on St. Clair Street in Chatham, where a 27-year-old man was found sleeping inside the business. When an employee attempted to wake him, the man allegedly assaulted the worker. He was arrested and charged with assault and failing to comply with probation.
That same day, a 30-year-old Chatham man was arrested for impaired driving after officers conducted an investigation on Barthe Street. Police say breath samples registered above the legal limit. He was released with a court date.
In Ridgetown, officers arrested a 27-year-old man accused of threatening to harm a family’s dog while holding a knife. He was charged with uttering threats and released with a future court date.
A violent assault investigation in Chatham resulted in the arrest of a 48-year-old man after two victims reported being assaulted, threatened and prevented from leaving a residence. Police say one victim was struck in the head with a hatchet and required medical attention. The accused faces multiple charges, including assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, forcible confinement, uttering threats, theft under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime. He remains in custody.
Later on March 14, a 42-year-old Wheatley woman was arrested for impaired driving after failing a roadside test during a traffic stop on Talbot Road. She was released with a court date.
Police also responded to a break and enter on Taylor Avenue in Chatham, where a homeowner found two recently evicted individuals inside the residence. Both were issued provincial offence notices for trespassing.
In Blenheim, a 16-year-old boy was arrested after officers responded to a disturbance involving a group of youths. Police say one teen was seen brandishing a knife. The youth was charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and released with a court date.
A major drug investigation unfolded on March 12 when the Intelligence Unit and Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at a Webb Street home in Chatham. Officers seized 2.487 kilograms of fentanyl, seven grams of cocaine, a loaded 9mm handgun, digital scales, cellphones and a large quantity of cash. Police estimate the street value of the drugs at more than $498,000. A 58-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were arrested and face multiple trafficking and firearms charges. Both remain in custody.
Police also arrested a 35-year-old Windsor man after a package theft on Lacroix Street. Officers recovered the stolen property following a foot chase. A second suspect, a 33-year-old Chatham-Kent man, remains outstanding.
In a separate case, a 40-year-old Chatham man was charged with criminal harassment after repeatedly sending unwanted messages to a woman between July 2025 and March 2026. He was released with a court date.
