POLICE BEAT: Copper pipe stolen from empty commercial building
By Erin Perkins
Grand Forks RCMP are looking for the person or people responsible for breaking into a commercial building on 2ndStreet in Grand Forks to steal copper piping.
Police were called out to the vacant building on Friday, Sep. 28 at 9:18 a.m. to investigate. The rear door window was broken so the suspect could gain entry, said Grand Forks RCMP staff sergeant Jim Harrison.
It appears the suspect got away with 20-foot lengths of copper pipe, he said. This is just one of many incidents of copper wire and pipe theft Grand Forks RCMP have had to follow up on since the spring.
“Eventually we will catch who is doing this stuff,” warned Harrison.
If anyone has information about this crime, please call the Grand Forks RCMP at 250-442-8288 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Christina Lake post boxes vandalized
Police are looking for suspects after Canada Post super boxes on Johnson Road in Christina Lake were tipped over and spray painted last week.
Grand Forks RCMP received the vandalism complaint on Monday, Sept. 24.
Harrison said there was “nothing identifiable” in the graffiti that covered the boxes.
“There are no witnesses or suspects at this time,” said Harrison. “We are asking the public to call us if they have any information. We want to put an end to this nonsense.”
Police warn residents to be Bear Aware
Grand Forks RCMP received several calls over the past week of bears roaming properties in Grand Forks.
Police attended to several properties where people and bears got too close over the past week.
“In a lot of the cases the bears are up in a tree and people make such a fuss the bears won’t come down,” said Harrison.
Harrison warns people that living in a semi-rural community like Grand Forks can often mean more wildlife encounters. He advises locking up garbage, clearing up garden refuse, keeping your composter sealed properly and removing any leftover fruit from on and beneath fruit trees.
“At this time of the year is when bears come out of the hills looking for their last meals before hibernation,” said Harrison.
He said unless you feel threatened by the bear, it is best to leave them alone.
If you have a bear who is threatening or causing you concern, Harrison advises calling the conservation officer at 1-877-358-2029.
For more Bear Aware tips visit www.bearaware.bc.ca .
Two vehicles damaged in hit and run incidents
Parking your car in Grand Forks just got a bit more dangerous.
Last week Grand Forks RCMP attended to two hit and run incidents on the same day – Friday, Sept. 28.
The first happened at 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Mrs. B&B Bakery on Como Road in Grand Forks. A couple from Oregon had their rental vehicle backed into causing $2,500 in damages, said Harrison. The person who backed up into the rental car did stick around.
The second incident was less law-abiding.
Police were called out to Kokomo’s Coffee House on 2ndStreet in Grand Forks at 2:04 p.m. The vehicle had been parked in front of the coffee house overnight, which is when the hit and run likely took place, said Harrison.
The fender and passenger side door appear to have been hit by a large trailer. The trailer left green scrape marks down the side and large indents in the vehicle causing well over $1,000 in damages, said Harrison.
