POLICE BEAT: Police warn Grand Forks residents to lock their cars after rash of thefts
By Erin Perkins
Trusting Grand Forks residents had a rude awakening this past week after a series of thefts from unlocked vehicles occurred throughout the city.
Grand Forks RCMP responded to numerous complaints about items, including a camera, wallet, Global Positioning System (GPS) and some cash, being stolen from their unlocked parked vehicles beginning Monday, Oct. 22.
“Police are reminding residents to keep their valuables secured and their vehicles locked at night,” said Grand Forks RCMP corporal Richard Lanz.
The first situation was reported on Monday, Oct. 22 at 11:20 a.m. after the spare tire from a motor home parked on Central Avenue in Grand Forks was stolen and then located a block away from the motor home some time later, said Lanz.
On Wednesday, Oct. 24 police were called out to two separate incidents in Grand Forks.
The first was reported at 6:29 a.m. when the owner of the vehicle discovered their wallet, MP3 player and GPS had been stolen from their unlocked vehicle parked on 75th Avenue in Grand Forks overnight.
The second theft was reported shortly after the first at 9:34 a.m. when two Canadian Tire gift cards and a small folding knife were among the things stolen from a vehicle parked on 2nd Street in Grand Forks.
The third incident happened on Thursday, Oct. 25 when a Nikon camera, sunglasses and some loose change was discovered missing from a vehicle parked on 11th Street. Again the incident likely happened overnight, although the owner didn’t report the missing items to police until 9:11 a.m. that day.
“It is possible it is the same person with the incidents being so close together,” said Lanz.
Bicycles going missing from Grand Forks yard
Bicycles have also been disappearing out of local back yards.
On Wednesday, Oct. 24 a bicycle was reported missing from a home on 25th Street in Grand Forks. Police later found the stolen bike on 4th Street and it was returned to the owner.
“Somebody out there is creating headaches,” said Lanz, suggesting that because other things are getting harder to steal, thieves are naturally targeting what comes easiest.
Another bike was reported stolen on Thursday, Oct. 25 on 25th Street in Grand Forks. The incident likely occurred on Friday, Oct. 19 during the night, said Lanz.
“Since the time of the report, the bike was located and returned to the lawful owner,” said Lanz, adding the alleged thief has been apprehended and charges are pending for possession of stolen property.
Stolen copper found in stolen storage space
Several hundred pounds of stolen copper and brass plumbing supplies were found housed in a stolen shed space on 4th Street in Grand Forks.
“It was a vacant residence and some unknown person put copper in and locked the shed,” said Lanz.
The caretaker of the property called in RCMP on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 1:22 after discovering the stash. The stolen items were returned to the owner.
Renovating thief jumps the fence at the Christina Lake Rona
A thief bent on getting some free building materials climbed the fenced area of the Christina Lake Rona lumber yard sometime overnight on Saturday, Oct. 27.
Grand Forks RCMP was called to the scene at 10:22 a.m. that morning. Some patio stones and wood decking of an undisclosed amount and value had been stolen from the yard.
RCMP do not have a suspect at this time. To report any information you may have on this crime or any other crime listed here please call the Grand Forks detachment at 250-442-8288 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Elk causes injuries in Christina Lake motor vehicle accident
A Vancouver driver had a surprising collision with an elk on Sunday, Oct. 28.
Grand Forks arrived on scene shortly after the incident happened at 8:11 p.m. on Highway 3 just outside of Christina Lake.
The elk came out of the ditch, surprising the driver who couldn’t avoid the collision. The incident damaged the driver’s Dodge van. Both the driver and the passenger received minor injuries in the incident, said Lanz.
Joy ride through a field could have left more than tread marks
A joy ride taken through a field on Carson Road in Grand Forks could have caused more than a few tread marks.
Grand Forks RCMP was called out to an acreage on Carson Road on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 1:52 p.m. after the owner discovered someone had driven through the field.
“The owner was concerned because of an underground irrigation system, which could’ve cause a lot of damage,” said Lanz.
Nobody saw the incident, so police are unsure of what make or model of vehicle was involved.
Food thievery in Christina Lake
An unlocked deep freezer proved too tempting to one thief in Christina Lake.
The freezer, located in a shed attached to a home, was opened and about $50 worth of ice cream, meat and baked goods were taken. Grand Forks RCMP were called out to the home on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8:29 a.m. after the food was discovered missing.
