CRIME CLIPS: Lock your stuff up, police advise

By Michelle Croissant

Thievery is on the rise in the local area—particularly out at Christina Lake—now that fall is settling in and many of the seasonal residents are no longer around fulltime. "We've has quite a few thefts happening out there recently," noted Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison. 

All of the crime files shared with the Sentinel this week were either break and enters or other types of thefts. Police suspect that some of last week's thefts may be related. "That's what we're thinking," commented Harrison. "We think that all these thefts at Christina Lake are probably linked but at this point we don't really know." 

Area residents are cautioned to be on the alert and take precautions. "Lock your stuff up," advised Harrison. "We've got some thieves out there."

Residents in Pineview Crescent area warned to keep doors locked

On Sept. 9th at 12:50 p.m. police received a report of a possible break-in at Pineview Crescent in Grand Forks. The complainant heard somebody in his garage during the night. According to Harrison, "The doors weren't locked...he was quite certain somebody was in his garage when he went out to look [and] heard noises of somebody running away." Nothing was taken, and it is uncertain as to whether or not it really was a break-and-enter. "It could well have been, so people in that area are warned to keep their doors locked and aware that there may be some bad people up in that area doing things."

Motorcycle stolen from Donaldson Drive

At 1:41 p.m. on Sept. 9th there was a report of a stolen motorcycle from Donaldson Drive in Grand Forks. The owner said that his Suzuki DRZ 400 street legal dirt bike went missing from outside of his residence overnight. The bike is valued at approximately $1500. Investigation is ongoing and the bike has not been found yet, "So we'll be keeping an eye open for that," said Harrison.

Christina Lake trailer theft planned out

Thefts continued on Sept. 9th out at Christina Lake. At 6:07 p.m. a 2003 utility trailer was reported stolen from a seasonal residence on West Lake Drive. The 16' x 7' tandem-axle flatbed Rainbow trailer with an Alberta license plate was last seen on Sept. 7. "It appears someone cut the chain across his driveway, drove in, hooked up to it and drove away with it," explained Harrison. "They also loosened the light bulbs in his sensor lights, which indicated...that they...planned this a little bit." 

Grand Forks license plate missing

On Sept. 10 at 1:25 p.m. a license plate and decal were reported stolen from a trailer in Grand Forks. Harrison said that it has been put on the national CPIC computer system (Canadian Police Information Centre). At this point, the owner does not know where or when it was stolen. "It just disappeared." 

Tools taken from West Lake Drive

Another theft occurred at West Lake Drive on Sept. 11, reported at 11:35 a.m. The complainant told police that his friend had brought a trailer full of woodworking tools to assist him in finishing his new house. The trailer was last seen parked there at 8 p.m. the night before. In the morning they found the trailer doors open and all of the tools missing. 

Same day, same lake, stolen tanks

At 2:18 p.m. on Sept. 11 a complainant called from Christina Lake to report an oxygen bottle and an acetylene bottle attached to the front of his welding machine were stolen sometime during the night. A chain holding the two tanks in place was cut. There are no suspects or witnesses at this point. "But again, we believe it's associated to the other thefts that have been happening out there," said Harrison. 

Thwarted B&E on 5th Street

Early morning Sept. 12 at 12:13 a.m. a report was received regarding a shed that was broken into on 5th Street in Grand Forks. "It appears that somebody cut the lock with bolt cutter [and] piled a bunch of things together to come back at a later time to retrieve them," said Harrison. "The building was re-secured and at this point we don't have any suspects or witnesses. Nothing was taken, although it was obvious that they were planning to come back with a vehicle or whatever to pick the items up."

Gallery 2 donation boxes targeted

A short time later on Sept. 12, at 3:50 a.m., police responded to a commercial alarm that went off at the Grand Forks Gallery 2 on Central Ave. Two officers attended and found the rear door unlocked. Two donation boxes located by the main entrance had been targeted. "Forensics obtained a fingerprint and the investigation is ongoing," reported Harrison.

Brand new chainsaw taken from truck

For the Sept. 12 finale, an 11:48 p.m. report was received regarding a stolen chainsaw. The complainant said that sometime during the last month someone cut the lock on the back of his pickup truck and took his green and black Poulan Pro chainsaw with a 16" bar. It is brand new and has never been used, valued at $185. Again, there are no suspects or witnesses and the owner is unsure when and where the theft occurred. 

While the Boundary Sentinel endeavors to report on any files of interest to the community, anything under the Mental Health Act cannot be published.