Pair charged with selling music instruments, equipment lifted from Fort Erie restaurant

By Don Redmond

Published March 28, 2023 at 4:44 pm

A musician playing in a restaurant in the Crystal Beach area of Fort Erie had to call in the Niagara Police on March 25 when some $9,000 worth of musical instruments and equipment went missing as it was being loaded into a vehicle after the gig.

The Niagara Police were able to identify two suspects after some of the stolen property was being posted online on Kijiji in Welland within days of the theft.

The police arranged a meeting to "buy" some of the stolen goods and two people were arrested when they showed up with some of the stolen property on March 27. From there, the police located more of the stolen instruments and equipment in a Welland home.

Jason Royce White, 36, of no fixed address has been charged with theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen goods over $5,000.

Natasha Leigh Seguin, 32, of no fixed address has been charged with theft over $5,000, possession of stolen goods over $5,000 and failing to comply with probation.

The pair were both held for a video bail hearing today (March 28) at the Welland Courthouse.

Despite most of the instrument and equipment being recovered, police are asking for the public's help in recovering an additional item. A brown suitcase covered in stickers (see photo below) had traveled with the musician and their band for decades and as such, has strong sentimental value.

Police believe the suspects left the suitcase in Maple Park in the area of Clare Ave. near Thorold Rd. in Welland between March 25 and March 27. A search of the park didn't turn up the suitcase.

Anyone with information about the location of the suitcase or this investigation is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009339.