SUNDRE — A patient vehicle thief captured on video surveillance cameras did not even need to wait one full hour for an opportunity to present itself.
The Sundre RCMP detachment issued a press release this afternoon, Aug. 9, reporting that a pickup truck was earlier this morning stolen at 7:40 a.m. from in front of the local Esso gas station.
Video footage from the adjacent McDonald’s shows the suspect, who was sitting at a table, leaving the restaurant before proceeding to steal the truck and drive away in a westbound direction on Main Avenue West, police said.
“The suspect had been sitting in the McDonald’s since 7 a.m. and left as soon as the victim parked their vehicle in front of the Esso,” reads a portion of the press release.
When asked if the truck was left running unattended while the suspect patiently sat around lying in wait for an opportunity to present itself, Sgt. Trent Sperlie, commander of the local detachment, told the Albertan “That is exactly what happened.”
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male donning a grey hoody covering his head with black skinny pants and moustache.
The stolen truck is described as a white 2014 GMC Sierra with Alberta licence plate CGV0272.
The Sundre detachment area has experienced a significant increase in vehicle and property theft, according to RCMP. Police are reminding the public that preventable instances of theft can be mitigated by never leaving an unattended vehicle running as well as never leaving valuables in a vehicle.
Anyone with information about either the stolen pickup truck or the male suspect is asked to contact the Sundre RCMP at 403-638-3675.
Members of the public who prefer to remain anonymous may alternatively contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), as well as submit information online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the P3 Tips app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.