Scam attack
Police are cautioning residents to stay vigilant in the wake of a Nigerian 419 scam that separated a local resident from $60,000 of her own money over the course of a couple of years.
The suspect sent emails from IP addresses traced to public café computers and prepaid phones to build trust with the victim before sending fake cheques of over $20,000 and asking the recipient to cash them and wire him the money.
“Red flags should be going up,” said Cpl. A.J. Mand, of the Innisfail RCMP detachment, adding that when things seem too good to be true they probably are. “You're responsible for anything that comes back NSF.”
Stabbing
A 19-year-old male was taken to hospital with stab wound Nov. 4, resulting from a fight at a party in town at about 4 a.m. Neither the victim nor the witnesses are co-operating with police. The investigation is ongoing.
Prison fight
On Nov. 2 one inmate assaulted another inmate at the Bowden Institution. RCMP were notified on Nov. 6.
Jumped
A male Innisfail resident in his 20s was walking in the alley behind 41 Street Nov. 10 when he was jumped by five or six males who left in an older model white import car. The victim was transported to a friend's house by an RCMP member.
Smashed
At 1 a.m. Nov. 4 Penhold Family Restaurant was broken into. Police expect the perpetrators, who smashed the north glass door, must have been scared off by the alarm.
Missing alcohol
At 11 p.m. criminals ripped out a screen door to gain entrance to a rural residence. A lot of alcohol was taken from the home on Twp. Rd. 352.
Building hit and run
The Studio 41 building sustained structural damage to the end of the building, in a hit-and-run incident. The owner of the business discovered the aftermath the following morning.
Vandalism
A car was damaged the night of Nov. 2 on 48 Avenue. Obscene language was written on the vehicle and the tires were slashed. The same night over on 53 Avenue Chevy Silverado truck tires were slashed.
A blue Ford Explorer broken down at Rge. Rd. 263 and Highway 42 had its windows smashed the next night. Windshield washer fluid and a charger plug were stolen.
As part of ongoing vandalism, an unplugged extension cord wreaked havoc on a freezer full of meat, on 36 Street in Innisfail.
Copper wire theft
About 300 feet of copper wire was stolen from an oil lease site over the weekend of Nov. 4. Police are asking the public to report any suspicious vehicles parked in rural areas.
“They've been targeting oil lease sites,” Mand said. “Copper's worth quite a bit of money.”
Thieves also targeted a rural oil lease site along Rge. Rd. 45 close to Raven the same weekend.
Unsecured
Two RV batteries and an air compressor were stolen from a secure underground parkade Nov. 4. Police caution residents to make sure doors to their car garages close behind them.
Weed bust
An officer was on patrol Nov. 5 when they saw a vehicle with a burnt-out headlight along 50 Street. After observing a can of beer and smelling marijuana they searched the vehicle. Police said they found an ounce of pot portioned up into bags. A 48-year-old male was arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking and is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 20.
Suspended
At 2 a.m. police attended to a single vehicle accident on the QEII Nov. 14, finding another vehicle attempting to pull the first out of the ditch. A 20-year-old male from Innisfail lost his licence for 24 hours due to an alcohol offence and received a three-day vehicle suspension.
ATV missing
A dark green 1994 Kawasaki KLK 400, worth a couple of thousand dollars, was stolen from the backyard of a Penhold residence between Oct. 31 and Nov. 8.
SUV Taken
A lady stopped her 1992 red and grey Ford Explorer for a bathroom break along Highway 592 west of Penhold and left her car running, Nov. 7. A truck pulled up. A man jumped out and took off with her car.
