100 Mile House RCMP were kept busy from Feb. 6 - 10 as they dealt with several separate break-and-enter incidents across the South Cariboo.
The first occurred Tuesday, Feb. 6 when a business and two residential apartments on Easzee Drive in the 108 Mile Ranch were broken into. The thieves took several items including cash, jewelry, two televisions, stereo equipment and an iPad.
Surveillance footage from the scene showed two suspects wearing clothing to disguise their identities driving a red pick-up truck. It is believed they spent several hours at the scene of the break-in.
That same day officers responded to another break-and-enter in Lac La Hache on Abbey Frontage Road. Several items were stolen from a home including firearms, a laptop and jewelry.
Shortly after, however, Williams Lake RCMP responded to reports of a vehicle driving erratically near 150 Mile House. Locating the vehicle, which had a stolen license plate, officers observed several items stolen from the residence and arrested the two female occupants in the vehicle. After searching both the vehicle and a Williams Lake residence several stolen items were recovered, including items stolen in an earlier break-in that took place in Williams Lake.
Both of the suspects, who are from Williams Lake, were released pending a later court date.
The next day officers responded to a reported break-and-enter at a storage lockers on the 600 block of Exeter Station Road. Two of the lockers had been entered and seven boxes of size five shoes, a pull sled and several bags containing Christmas decorations were taken.
On Thursday, Feb. 8 another business on Easzee Drive was broken into with the perpetrators gaining access to the Canada Post office and stealing several packages. RCMP located and stopped a vehicle of interest that was suspected to be associated with an earlier break-and-enter incident at the same location in January. Officers observed several items in the vehicle they determined were stolen from the business.
A search warrant was executed at a Williams Lake home on the 400 block of Smith Street where RCMP recovered several items taken from the 108 post office. During the search police also found fraudulent identification and break-in instruments. Two Williams Lake men were arrested in connection to this investigation and are expected to be charged with breaking and entering, theft of mail and possession of property obtained by crime.
On Friday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 10 RCMP received reports of another two break-and-enter incidents. The first occurred sometime in the previous week at a business on Highway 97 near Crystal Springs Road where six Husqvarna chainsaws were stolen. The other incident was a private residence on Canim-Hendrix Lake Road where pieces of jewelry were stolen.
RCMP also responded to several cases not related to breaking and entering last week, including the theft of a brown 2004 Honda Civic with B.C. license plate VC7 19A from a residence on Easzee Drive on Tuesday, Feb. 6. This vehicle is still missing.
On Wednesday, Feb. 7 100 Mile RCMP assisted the Cariboo Chilcotin Crime Reduction Unit in executing a search warrant on a residence along Highway 24 for firearm and fraud-related offences. One man was arrested and several fake identification and credit cards were seized. This investigation remains ongoing.
During the evening of Thursday, Feb. 8 a vehicle crashed into a B.C. Hydro pole on Horse Lake Road causing a power outage. RCMP responded to the scene along with 100 Mile Fire Rescue and B.C. Ambulance.
On arrival, the driver, a male, was found injured and trapped in his vehicle and had to be extracted. Open alcohol containers were found in the vehicle and the driver was believed to have been impaired during the crash. The man was transferred to the Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake and RCMP have sent a blood sample for analysis to determine if alcohol was a factor in the incident.
Two days later RCMP received a report of another vehicle colliding with a Hydro pole on Horse Lake Road near Finn Road. This time the lone male occupant of the vehicle was uninjured and alcohol impairment was suspected. After failing a breath test the driver was issued an immediate 90-day roadside prohibition from driving and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact RCMP at 250-395-2456 or 1-800-222- TIPS (8477) anonymously.
