POLICE BEAT: Unlocked vehicles targeted again by local thief
By Erin Perkins
A $30 bag of candy and $2 in change were stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on 1st Street in Grand Forks last week.
On Monday, March 4 a neighbor in the area reported to police that they had seen a suspicious person at about 1:40 p.m. The person left the area on a bicycle wearing a light coloured jacked and a backpack, said Grand Forks RCMP staff sergeant Jim Harrison.
The owner of the vehicle later reported the theft at 4:53 p.m. but police suspect the suspicious person seen earlier in the day did the deed.
Harrison doesn’t think this is a start up of the rash of vehicle thefts experienced in Grand Forks in late 2012. Those events came to an end in early 2013 when police found and arrested the person they felt was the likely cause for at least some of the cases.
“I hope it is just random – it is the only (report) we had last week,” said Harrison.
The vehicle was unlocked.
Possible squatter in 9th Street home
Grand Forks RCMP were called in for a possible break and enter to a home on 9th Street in Grand Forks on Friday, March 8 at 2:12 p.m.
A neighbor discovered the house door located in the carport had been pried open.
“It appeared somebody had entered the home and had squatted in the residence,” said Harrison.
Harrison said police found items strewn around the house and some bedding, leading them to believe it was a squatter.
The homeowner is out of town until today, then police can determine if anything was taken from the home.
Police looking for tool thief
Police are asking the public to help them find someone who stole tools from a 16th Street home.
The incident happened on Sunday, March 10 and was reported at 4:02 p.m.
An unlocked room located off a carport was opened up and a group of tools in their original cases were stolen including a DeWalt drill, Napa socket set and an angle drill. There was no damage done to the premises.
Police also have no suspects or witnesses.
“Again, somebody has left the door opened and somebody helped themselves, “ said Harrison.
To report any information you may have about the incidents above please call the Grand Forks RCMP at 250-442-8288 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
