Olds RCMP are battling a surge in property crimes – most of it theft of vehicles or theft from vehicles, Cpl. Michael Black says.
Olds RCMP are battling a surge in property crimes – most of it theft of vehicles or theft from vehicles, Cpl. Michael Black says.
He notes during the week of July 9-15 for example, Olds RCMP fielded 93 calls for service, up from the usual figure of 60 to 70.
"There are some active groups that are out there right now. We're working with other neighbouring detachments to further investigate these groups," Black told the Albertan.
"Property crimes are being committed by not only local criminals but criminals that are travelling from outside of the area. We're looking for any information from the public to help us out."
Another problem, Black said, is that criminals are getting a lot more brazen – or desperate. They're committing thefts and other crimes in broad daylight now, rather than the cover of darkness.
"Typically in years gone past, like 10 years ago, it used to be criminals operated under the stealth of night. But now it's any time, any day, they're starting to hit people," Black said.
"And it used to be if they believed anybody was home it was somewhat of a deterrent, but now that seems to be less of a deterrent for the criminals operating around."
He said residents can help curb thefts by keeping their vehicles locked and take valuables out of those vehicles.
Following is a rundown of some recent crimes:
During the evening of July 12 or the morning of July 13, a red 2013 Polaris RZR quad, licence plate ECM077, was stolen from the 5100 block of 48th Street.
Black said it was on a flatbed trailer as well, however, when he was interviewed, police had not been provided with the licence plate for that flatbed.
Between the evening of July 12 and the morning of July 13, a set of keys and a pair of sunglasses were stolen from a truck on Sierra Drive. Black said it appears the truck was unlocked at the time of the theft.
Between the evening of July 11 and the morning of July 12, a break-in occurred at a John Deere equipment compound on 50th Avenue.
"(On) their outer compound, one of the gates was cut," Black said. "They tried to yank another gate out using a truck and ramming it and cutting the gate.
"They didn't end up getting access into that inner enclosed gate there, but in the outer one, one of the John Deere riding mowers was stolen out of there."
Black says that stolen mower was a John Deere Z665 riding mower.
"We're still looking into that one there; looking into video, canvassing neighbourhoods, looking for information," he said.
At 7:30 a.m. on July 12, Olds RCMP received a report that an enclosed white 2014 Cargo Mate trailer with a motorcycle trike in it had been stolen from the 6400 block of 46th Street.
"We ended up recovering that trailer and the trike later on that morning – on Range Road 15, just south of town here," Black said.
According to surveillance footage, the theft appears to have occurred at 1:05 a.m.
He said police are still interested in talking to anyone who was in the area at that time if they saw anything that appeared to be suspicious.
Between 9 p.m. July 11 and 5:30 a.m. July 12, a wallet was stolen from a black Trailblazer parked on Silverthorn Close.
"Debit transactions were made later on that morning," Black said, adding police are investigating the incident.
On July 11, Olds RCMP received a report that a 2005 Dodge Ram white pickup truck, licence plate of L37349; a 2016 TrailTek 27-foot flatdeck trailer with licence plate 5GP638; and a 2012 Bobcat T650 skid loader were stolen from a home in the 4100 block of 47th Avenue some time between July 1 and July 11.
On July 10 between noon and 12:30 Olds RCMP responded to Twp. Rd. 332 near Rge. Rd. 263, just east of Olds.
"Two males came and knocked on the door of this residence asking for another male. The owners ended up calling us right away," Black says.
"After they got off the phone with us, these two males were trying to steal their truck in the yard.
"We responded out and tried to find them. The bad guys were in a dark grey Ford truck, pickup truck. We weren't able to locate them in our patrols out there."
Between 8 p.m. July 8 and 11:15 a.m. July 9, a dark blue 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee with licence plate BDP1490 was stolen from the 6100 block of 53rd Street.
Between 4 p.m. July 8 and 9 a.m. July 10, a white 2002 Ford truck was stolen from Sierra Drive.
Black said that vehicle was recovered in Innisfail so members of the Olds and Innisfail detachments are working together in an effort to catch the perpetrators.
On July 8, someone tried to steal a 2005 F350 truck from the 2000 block of 19th Avenue in Bowden.
Black said a lot of damage was done to that vehicle in an effort to steal it – including "smashing" the ignition.
"Booster cables were used to try to get the vehicle started. However, they weren't successful," he said. "We're looking for information on that one."
