Man arrested for fraud at Pickering Canadian Tire

PICKERING -- A Toronto man was arrested a second time for alleged fraud attempts in Durham Region.

The man was arrested Aug. 7 for allegedly attempting to use fake credit cards at the Canadian Tire on Pickering Parkway, just a couple weeks after he was arrested for the same type of offense in Port Perry.

Durham Regional Police were called to the Canadian Tire for reports of a man trying to buy merchandise and gift cards valued at more than $500 with a fake credit card. Store employees requested to see some identification and called police.

The suspect fled on foot with another man, but police waited for them at a vehicle in a parking lot and arrested one of them upon his return. A search of the 2008 GMC Yukon found merchandise and gift cards purchased with the forged credit card.

The other man was located and arrested the next day. He was previously released from police custody July 22 on 32 charges relating to forged credit cards at a Port Perry gas station.

Johnson Johnpintan, age 33 of Hart Avenue in Toronto, is facing seven new fraud-related charges in addition to the 32 previously received.

Sivarajah Tharmaratnam, age 40 of Guinevere Road in Markham, is charged with attempted fraud under $5,000 and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Both men were held for bail hearings Aug. 8. The investigation is continuing and more charges are pending. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jeff Caplan at 905-579-1520  Ext. 5702. Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.