100 Mile House RCMP responded to 78 calls for service in the past week, including reports of theft, impaired driving, fleeing police and mischief.
Members of the public helped 100 Mile House RCMP recover a stolen backhoe from the Lac La Hache transfer station last week.
Sgt. Brian Lamb said officers responded to reports of the robbery on Thursday, April 4. The robbery itself took place between 7pm and 9.40pm with the door to the transfer station broken open and the backhoe, a Case 580, found to be missing.
The next day, Lamb said RCMP received several calls from the public reporting a backhoe was seen around 10 p.m. speeding down Wright Station Road. Members of the public believed the thieves may have gained access to the pipe in the area.
“Members attended and located the pipeline tracks and other back roads that eventually led to it being discovered off the road in a wooded area near Lilly Pad Lake Road at mile marker 105,” Lamb said. “The ignition had been damaged and it was likely that the backhoe was hidden there to be transported or moved later.”
Also on April 4, RCMP responded to a single-vehicle rollover on Canim-Hendrix Highway. Upon arrival with members of the Emergency Medical Services, 100 Mile Fire Rescue and Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department officers located an SUV in the ditch with its sole occupant, the driver, trapped and injured inside.
“The female was extracted by members of 100 Mile Fire Rescue by removing the entire roof from the vehicle. BC Air Ambulance was staged in the area while the extraction was completed,” explained Lamb. “The woman was conscious and taken to hospital with undetermined injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.”
Lamb said after investigating officers determined the vehicle had left the roadway around a corner, entered a ditch, struck a hot tub pole and then struck a roadway before overturning several times. Impairment was ruled out as a factor in this accident.
Impairment was a factor, however, on April 6 when RCMP were conducting a patrol on Highway 97 when a vehicle was observed nearly hitting the center median at 100 Mile House. Lamb said RCMP saw the vehicle stop for a red light and then remain stopped even after the light had turned green.
RCMP stopped the vehicle after it turned onto Birch Avenue. The driver showed signs of alcohol intoxication and officers observed numerous open containers of liquor inside the vehicle.
After failing a breathalyzer test, officers issued the driver, who was found to be a new driver, with a 90-day driving ban, impounded his vehicle for 30 days and issued him a ticket for offense for not displaying an N sign on your vehicle.
On April 8, RCMP received reports of an abandoned vehicle on Birch Avenue. Lamb said the vehicle in question is a purple Honda Fit with BC plates TD5 O4J that was reported stolen in Penticton.
Upon arrival, officers found the vehicle in motion and heading onto Highway 97. When officers attempted to stop it, Lamb said the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed northbound on Highway 97. RCMP chose not to pursue the vehicle due to the risk to the public.
Three people are believed to have been in the car at the time and RCMP are asking the public to send them any dash cam footage of the vehicle. This event took place between 8.10 and 9 am on April 8.
That same day, Lamb said officers received a report of attempted fraud at a business in the 200 block of Highway 97. Lamb said a man tried to purchase items with a credit card. During the transaction, the credit card was determined to have been stolen and the suspect left the store, possibly in the company of a female. Officers are reviewing surveillance footage to identify this suspect.
Also on April 8, RCMP responded to a report of criminal mischief in the 5800 block of Horse Lake Road. Sometime that week the vehicle was broken into and the interior and radio were damaged. However, nothing was reported stolen and the ignition was not tampered with.
Lamb said on Monday, April 8, RCMP received a report of a suspicious vehicle on North Bonaparte Road near Crystal Lake. A vehicle described as a Ford F350 with an “A&B Rail” logo on its side door has entered a property in the 7800 block twice and appeared to be looking around.
The complaint was made by the owner of the property who was alerted by the surveillance images of the vehicle. During the investigation, Lamb said officers realized the truck was a white 2018 Ford F350 with license plate CNN 7760 that was reported stolen from Savona on the same day.
Upon arrival, the RCMP were unable to locate the vehicle. Lamb said RCMP believe the truck may still be in the area. This investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about any of these incidents is asked to call the 100 Mile House RCMP at 250-395-2456 or anonymously 24 hours a day at Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at bccrimestoppers.com.
