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OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Friday, June 5, 2013
VOL. 99 NO. 79
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Toads and tots Kevin Krampl of RBC and Terry Nichols, owner of Pen-Y-Brin Farm, examine a toad with Krampl’s son Ethen. For more photos and coverage see Friday’s Observer. Karen Powell photo
Series of thefts believed to be organized AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter After a rash of thefts Quesnel and Prince George RCMP are teaming up. A small organized group of persons are believed responsible. Summary of incidents: • At approximately noon May 30, a member of the RCMP’s regional provincial traffic services unit based out of Quesnel observed what was believed to be two men attempting to steal a skid steer tractor and trailer on Dennis Road in the community. The two suspects fled the area in what was later confirmed to be the Ford F250 stolen from Jenson Road in Prince George, May 28. The two suspects abandoned the vehicle and
fled into a wooded area off Northstar road in Quesnel. Prince George RCMP’s Police Service Dog ‘Astro’ and his handler attended the area and successfully tracked the suspects more than 1.5 kilometres into the wooded area. One suspect surrendered to officers and was found in possession of bear spray. The other suspect received minor injuries as a result of wounds sustained from a dog bite. He was treated in hospital and released back into custody. • On the morning of May 28, Prince George RCMP received a report of a stolen black Ford F250 from a residence on Jensen Road on the west side of the city. The vehicle was taken sometime overnight. The keys were left in the vehicle.
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• During the early morning hours of May 29, a gate to a commercial property on 22nd Avenue was rammed and a green Ford F350 pick-up was taken. In addition, two other pick-ups were attempted to be stolen. • May 29 at approximately 4:30 a.m., there was an attempt to steal a trailer with an excavator from a residence on Forest Avenue in the Pinewood area of Prince George. Investigators believe the green Ford F350 stolen from 22nd Avenue was used in this attempted theft. • Sometime between 10 p.m. May 29 and 6 a.m. May 30, a grey Ford F150 pick-up was stolen from a driveway on Kovachich Road in the Blackburn area of Prince George.
• Sometime between 10 p.m. May 29 and 6 a.m. May 30, a red Chevrolet Silverado pick-up was taken from the driveway of a residence on the 1800 block of 12th Avenue. • May 30 at approximately 2:30 a.m., Prince George RCMP were called to the Purden Lake area for a report of a truck on fire. The truck was completely burned. Investigators have been able to identify the truck as the Chevrolet Silverado stolen from 12th Avenue. • On the morning of May 30, the stolen green Ford F350 from 22nd Avenue was recovered, abandoned on Highway 97 south of Prince George; • While police attended the address on Highway 97 south, a neighbour re-
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ported a stolen side by side ATV and trailer. Sometime overnight the 2013 Polaris Ranger six seat ATV was taken from the property. In the process, approximately $5,000 damage was done to the gate of the property. • The morning of May 30, Prince George RCMP received a report of an attempted theft of a Ford Ranger pick-up from a residence on Baker Road. Valuables were in the vehicle, but were not taken. • During the early evening May 30, Prince George RCMP received information from the public that an ATV and trailer believed to have been stolen was on a property on Vanhill Road in Prince George. Police attended, located and seized a side by side ATV and trailer
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that was confirmed to have been stolen from Highway 97 south earlier in the day. Police were also able to locate and seize the Ford F350 stolen from Kovachich Road earlier in the day. The suspects were not located and investigators do not believe the property owner is a participant in these criminal offences. Charges have now been sworn against the two suspects arrested in Quesnel on May 30. Dale Al West, a 33-yearold Prince George resident, is facing charges of theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, failure to stop for police, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
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