100 Mile House RCMP responded to 78 calls for service in the past week, including reports of thefts, impaired driving, fleeing from police and mischief.
Members of the public helped 100 Mile House RCMP recover a backhoe stolen from the Lac La Hache transfer station last week.
Sgt. Brian Lamb said officers responded to reports of the theft on Thursday, April 4. The theft itself took place sometime between 7 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. with the gate to the transfer station smashed and the backhoe, a Case 580, was found to be missing.
The next day Lamb said RCMP received several calls from the public reporting that a backhoe was seen around 10 p.m. speeding down Wright Station Road. Members of the public believed the thieves may have accessed the pipeline in the area.
“Members attended and located the tracks on the pipeline and other back roads that eventually led to it being discovered off-road in a wooded area near Lilly Pad Lake Road in 105 Mile,” Lamb said. “The ignition had been damaged and it was likely that the backhoe was being hid there to be transported or moved later.”
Also on April 4, RCMP responded to a single-vehicle rollover on Canim-Hendrix Road. On arrival with members of Emergency Health Services, 100 Mile Fire Rescue and the Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department officers located an SUV in the ditch with its lone female occupant, the driver, trapped and injured within.
“The female was extracted by members of the 100 Mile Fire Rescue by way of removing the entire roof of the vehicle. BC Air Ambulance staged in the area while the extraction was completed,” Lamb explained. “The female was conscious and was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.”
Lamb said after investigation officers determined the vehicle had left the roadway going around a corner, went into the ditch, struck a hydro pole and then hit a driveway before rolling over several times. Impairment was ruled out as a factor in this crash.
Impairment was a factor, however, on April 6 when RCMP were conducting a patrol on Highway 97 when a vehicle was observed nearly striking the centre median in 100 Mile House. Lamb said RCMP watched the vehicle stop for a red light and then remained stopped even when the light had turned green.
RCMP pulled the vehicle over after it had turned onto Birch Avenue. The male driver showed signs of alcohol intoxication and officers noted numerous open liquor containers within the vehicle.
After failing a breathalyzer test officers issued the driver, who was found to be a new driver, a 90-day driving prohibition, impounded his vehicle for 30 days and issued him a violation ticket for failing to display an N sign on his 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 B.C. license plates TD5 O4J which was stolen from Penticton.
On arrival, officers found the vehicle in motion and was heading onto Highway 97. When officers attempted to stop it Lamb said the vehicle fled at high speeds heading north on Highway 97. The RCMP chose not to pursue the vehicle due to the risk to the public.
It is believed three individuals were in the car at the time and RCMP are asking the public to submit any dash cam footage of the vehicle to them. This incident took place between 8:10 a.m. and 9 a.m. on April 8.
That same day Lamb said officers received a report of an attempted fraud at a business in 200 block of Highway 97. Lamb said a man attempted to purchase items with a credit card. During the transaction, it was determined the credit card had been stolen and the suspect left the store, possibly in the company of a woman. Officers are reviewing surveillance footage to identify this suspect.
Also on April 8, RCMP responded to a report of criminal mischief on the 5800 of Horse Lake Road. At some point that week the vehicle was entered and the interior and radio were damaged. However, nothing was reported stolen and the ignition was not tampered with.
Lamb said that on Monday, April 8 RCMP received 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 report was made by the property owner who was alerted by surveillance footage of the vehicle. On investigation, Lamb said officers realized the truck was a white 2018 Ford F350 with license plate CNN 7760 that was stolen from Savona on the same day.
On arrival, 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 on any of these incidents are 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 .