INNISFAIL – Auto thefts continue to be an issue in Innisfail.
“It’s out of control. I’m not happy about it,” said John Schneider, owner of Napa Autopro – Innisfail 2020 Auto Service Ltd. “You try to prevent it.”
A 2000 Dodge Ram was stolen from Napa Autopro – Innisfail 2020 Auto Service Ltd. in the early morning of Jan. 9, around 2:30 a.m.
The stolen truck was found several hours later in Olds.
Olds RCMP received a call of a suspicious vehicle at 6:30 a.m. on the morning of Jan. 9.
A 2000 Dodge Ram truck with damaged door locks and ignition was found parked in the alley of 46th Avenue in Olds.
“Police attended and confirmed that the truck had been stolen from a mechanic shop in Innisfail earlier that morning,” said Staff Sgt. Jim MacDonald, Olds detachment commander. “CCTV footage obtained from a business in Olds showed the truck was abandoned at approximately 4:30 a.m.”
He noted a short time later, a Ford F-350 was shown driving away from the area and that truck was also later reported stolen to the Olds RCMP.
The theft in Innisfail was caught on video and has been shared numerous times on social media.
“It was right in front of the shop,” said Schneider, “They found (the truck) abandoned.”
It is not the first time the local business owner has had a vehicle stolen from his shop, and in fact is at least the fourth vehicle stolen in the last 12 months, according to Schneider.
He recently installed extra security measures in an attempt to combat the increasing thefts.
“They stole it right from under the new lights we put on,” he said. “We just put all new lights in and (installed) video cameras within the last year.
“We’re doing everything we can,” said Schneider.
Police are continuing their investigation.
