SUNDRE – Despite a relatively low call volume for the week between Feb. 26 and March 3, Sundre RCMP were among other files kept fairly busy with break-ins and oil and gas well site thefts.
The detachment logged a total of 29 calls during that period of time, reported Sgt. Trent Sperlie, the detachment’s commander.
On Feb. 26, police received a report of a break-in that was believed to have occurred at some point between Jan. 28 and Feb. 23 at an Alta Gas office in Mountain View County.
Unknown suspect(s) took a STIHL model FSA90R battery-powered lawn and weed trimmer, a STIHL model AL101 battery charger, a STIHL model AP300 lithium battery and a Dewalt cordless drill and impact driver combo, reads part of a report prepared by Sperlie.
And at about 2 a.m. on March 1, police also received a report about the theft of 200 feet of cable from a Taqa well site along Range Road 80, with the suspect vehicle’s description provided being a dark-coloured SUV.
The culprits also caused about $10,000 worth of damage carrying out the crime, the sergeant said.
While two additional and unrelated break-ins were also reported, both of those incidents were subsequently determined to be unfounded, he said.
As well, an unknown individual was seen on March 1 suspiciously walking around a residence in the area of Township Road 325A and was looking through windows and the garage.
The occupant confronted the male suspect who then reportedly “flashed a star badge” and asked for “Logan” but did not identify himself or what agency he was with before ultimately leaving the property, he said.
Also on March 1, the RCMP responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle at a parking lot in town that was looked into with police determining the vehicle had broken down and the registered owner was in the process of getting repairs done, he said.
The following day on March 2, a west-bound motorist driving a vehicle in low visibility due to snow along Township Road 334 swerved right in an attempt to avoid a head-on collision when an approaching semi tractor trailer crossed over the centre line, forcing the vehicle to catch a snow drift before getting pulled into the ditch and through a fence. However, there were no serious injuries reported as a result, he said.
There were several other calls on Feb. 26 including a report of an alarm at the Crammond Hall that was later determined to have been accidentally triggered and a no-injury collision with a ticket issued for failure to stop at a stop sign when a vehicle turned onto Township Road 320 and was struck by another vehicle traveling on Township Road 320, he said.
As well, an unknown suspect reportedly tried purchasing $6,000 worth of lotto tickets and proceeded to discretely attempt to cancel the transaction on a bank machine.
“The potential victim recognized that the suspect was trying to reverse the charge on the bank machine and was able to cancel the whole transaction before he lost any money,” reads part of Sperlie’s report, adding the suspect then left in a later-model Mercedes Benz.
And during a traffic stop that was initiated when a motorist was pulled over not only for failing to stop at a stop sign but also for having an expired vehicle registration, police determined the driver had warrants for assault with a weapon, 13 counts of failing to appear in court, harassing communications, obstructing a peace officer, possession of stolen property, as well as fraud and break and enter. The suspect was held for a bail hearing and subsequently released on $500 cash bail to appear in Rimbey court on March 6, the sergeant said.
On Feb. 28, there was a report of a hit and run that happened in town, but as the victim only noticed the damage upon returning home they could not say for certain where the incident might have occurred.
That same day, a motorist lost control amid icy conditions and their vehicle slid off of Forestry Trunk Road and into a ditch, along the way striking several trees. However, there were no serious injuries reported, said the sergeant.
And on Feb. 29, police also responded to the fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred east of the James River Store along Highway 587, or the road to Bowden, during a substantial snowfall.
Residents with any information about these or other incidents are encouraged to contact the Sundre RCMP’s complaint line at 403-638-3655.
Alternatively, information may also be provided anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the P3 Tips app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
