A 64-year-old Hanover man is facing charges after allegedly making up a story about being mugged to try to get a free cell phone.
Hanover Police say they received a report earlier this month of a street robbery in a back alley of the downtown core. Police say they were told the incident happened on Friday, Oct. 13.
The victim reported he was robbed by two males who had assaulted him from behind, threw him to the ground and kicked him before stealing his cell phone and wallet. Police were told the suspects fled the scene on foot and the victim walked home with minor injuries.
But, apparently none of this was true.
Hanover Police say investigators found the reported robbery did not occur and the alleged victim fabricated the entire story in an attempt to get a free cell phone through a social service agency.
As a result, the 64-year-old Hanover man was arrested for public mischief, breach of probation and breach of his conditional sentence order. He was held for a bail hearing and later released with a court date set in Walkerton.
“Reporting a crime that did not occur and misleading police is a serious criminal offence that takes valuable time and resources to investigate. Anyone that fabricates false police reports will face criminal prosecution,” Hanover Police say in a release.
