Innisfail RCMP has bagged a gang of axe- and rifle-wielding Red Deer teens caught prowling Penhold streets and breaking into multiple vehicles and a residential home.
The criminal spree by the five armed youths, all believed to be about 15 years old, woke up alarmed residents in the early morning hours of Aug. 15.
Mounties received the first complaint shortly after 2 a.m. An hour later, police had another complaint of youths disturbing the peace. At 5:50 a.m. Mounties received the first call from a resident complaining a household car was broken into.
”The calls just kept rolling in,” said Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Jeff Hildebrandt.
“When we arrested them what was of grave concern was the fact they were in possession of an axe which they used to gain entry for the residential break and enter,” he said. “The gun wasn't specifically used as far as we know for the commission of an offence, but the axe was.
“But I don't know what is worse – wandering around with an axe in your possession that you're using to commit property crime or having as a backup a rifle,” he added.
Hildebrandt said all of the teens, four boys and a girl, were previously known to police. He said the gun, a Marlin .17 calibre bolt-action rifle with a scope, was purchased off the streets of Red Deer. He estimated its street value at $100.
“Of concern mostly is that they all came from outside the community and the crime occurs inside of Penhold. They came specifically to Penhold in the middle of the night to do nothing but commit crime. It's almost like an attack from another jurisdiction,” said Hildebrandt, adding the car prowling and break and enter spree had the appearance of being organized and planned. “To catch them, was a success for us and we are quite interested in pursuing the matter.”
The five teens have each been charged with break and enter, possession of stolen property and possession of weapons for the purpose of being dangerous to the public peace. All have been released to their parents or guardians.
Hildebrandt said police have recovered a significant amount of stolen property. He said if any Penhold resident has noticed any thefts from vehicles or has experienced any type of property loss they should notify RCMP.
“We have a whole desk of property we are trying to connect back to the public,” he said.
In the meantime, RCMP is investigating any links the five might have to previous recent unsolved burglaries.
“That is part of why we would like to get this property identified more completely. Maybe it is connected to previous break and enters -- maybe not from (Aug. 15) but from a couple of weeks ago,” said Hildebrandt.
“It would be nice to see that this would result in a reduction of crime in Penhold. I have no doubt that this was not the first time these five kids did this. Hopefully, we will have a reduction in the property crimes that might be occurring in the future.”
