Big surge in calls to Olds RCMP

Olds RCMP were scrambling during the last week of May. They received about 100 calls for service, well up from their regular volume of 60 to 70 calls a week.

Cpl. Michael Black is unsure why they received so many calls that week, but he has a theory. He suspects more people are reporting thefts.

"Monday's typically when the majority of the calls come in, just because people leave for the weekend, come back and find a bunch of stuff and then call us Monday when they're on their way to work or when they get home or their way back from work."

Many of the calls concerned theft of trucks as well as theft from trucks or other vehicles.

For example, a 2004 F250 was reported stolen from Viceroy Crescent between midnight May 31 and 8:15 a.m. June 1.

"The was locked. The garage door opener was in the truck," Black says.

RCMP are looking for any information the public can provide on that vehicle theft.

On May 30, police received a call about theft from a motor vehicle on 21A Street Close in Bowden.

"It occurred in the past, but they don't say when," Black says. "Looks like the vehicle was locked but there was no damage to the outside."

He says some keys and a notebook, both of which were used for work, were stolen.

Also, "something (was) broken on the ignition," Black says.

A Ford F350 was reported stolen from the 5100 block of Silverthorn Road May 29 between 8 p.m. and midnight.

"(The) doors were locked; spare key inside," Black says.

The truck was recovered in Olds on June 1.

Police are looking for any information the public can provide on that theft.

For the second time in a few weeks, police received a report that the exhaust system had been stolen from a vehicle.

The latest such incident was reported May 29.

"A guy had his truck (a 2012 Dodge Ram) parked at a dealership here in Olds for some service and had his exhaust cut from the vehicle," Black says.

He says the same thing happened to a 2016 Ford F350 at the bowling alley.

At about 12:30 a.m. on May 28, Olds RCMP responded to a complaint that an abandoned F350 truck was sitting in a field north of Walmart.

"The truck was stolen, windows were smashed, ignition punched out in the vehicle," Black says. "They were able to trace it back to a business that had been broken into in Olds in the Imperial Way in the industrial park."

Police are asking for information from the public on that matter as well.

Between May 26 and May 28, a business on Imperial Way was hit again, although this time unsuccessfully.

"A chain-link fence was cut. The suspects tried to pry open some bay doors. Doesn't look like they gained entry to the building, just cut the fence into the yard," Black says. "That one's still under investigation."

Also on May 26, between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., thieves stole about 100 litres of fuel from a farm on Rge. Rd. 12 near Twp. Rd. 323.

"Guys drove into the yard, busted the lock off the tank and then stole fuel," Black says.

He says there is surveillance video in connection with the case, but it's difficult to see anything clearly on it.

Olds RCMP expect to lay charges soon in regard to a "roadside screening device demand refusal."

That incident occurred on May 25, at about 2:30 a.m.

"I think there are going to be other charges stemming from that possibly; maybe resisting, something like that," Black says.

Olds RCMP also received a report that a 2015 5.5 X GPR black flat deck trailer had been stolen from the 4600 block of 51st Street some time during the evening of May 24. It had a Husqvarna lawnmower on it.

Police are still working on that file.

"I think the guy did everything he probably could to prevent it. He had a double lock on the hitch, chain on the wheel," Black says. "Looks like the bad guys hooked on to her, skidded it out and then hooked it up properly."

RCMP are also investigating a report from the Town of Olds of graffiti on the Centennial Park gazebo.

"We're looking for any information on anybody (who may be involved); whether it's kids or adults or whoever it is," Black says.