Trio arrested near Mount Forest after 85-year-old woman foils home invasion: OPP

Ontario Provincial Police say an 85-year-old woman is being credited with scaring off two men during a daytime home invasion in southwestern Ontario on Tuesday.

Police said they were called to an active break-in near Mount Forest at around 3 p.m. after it was reported that two suspects had kicked down the back door of a home and were inside.

But when officers arrived, they were told the suspects fled after being confronted by the elderly woman inside.

Const. Josh Cunningham said it appears both the suspects and the homeowner startled each other.

“It was enough that it scared these relatively young men away from the property,” he said.

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Police said the two suspects and a woman fled in a white car, but were arrested at a property a few kilometres away.

A 38-year-old man from Owen Sound, a 42-year-old man from Hagersville and a 40-year-old woman from Springmount are all facing several charges.

Cunningham said the victim was not hurt during the ordeal.

“It certainly doesn’t appear there was a violent motive behind the break-in,” he said. “But we don’t recommend people go and confront suspects.”

Police said nothing was taken from the house, but officers found several pieces of property in the car, which are believed to have been stolen during other suspected break-ins.

“We’re looking to identify who owns them and maybe relate other thefts or break-ins to them,” he said. “In fact, at this point, we’ve already started to get information from the public linking other crimes to these items and these people.”

Anyone with information about the break-in or the stolen items can call Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Anonymous tips can be left with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.