Rimbey RCMP had another busy week investigating nearly 60 files. Highlights of the week include break and enters, thefts, assaults, criminal harassment, uttering threats, fraud, suicide, arson and motor vehicle collisions.
Drunks tossing empties
A Mountie dressed in his red serge, on his way to the Victim Services Unit Valentine’s Gala Feb. 9, was travelling east on Highway 53 in his personal vehicle coming into Rimbey. He was surprised to see a liquor bottle flying through the air after it had been discarded from the passenger’s side window of a pickup truck heading in the same direction.
A Dodge truck was stopped at the four-way stop in town. The occupants, all residents of Rocky Mountain House, who decided to have some “road pops” on the way to the city, soon realized the Mounties in Rimbey are not taking drinking and driving lightly. Charges were laid and the officer still made it to the gala on time.
Just one more question…
On Feb. 11, police responded to a theft complaint at a Rimbey business. The subsequent investigation revealed a possible description of the thief. The investigating officer did his best impression of “Columbo” and went to work trying to locate a potential suspect. By midday a suspect had been identified and arrested. After the offender provided a full confession to the crime he was charged with the offence. The 24-year-old accused man, a resident of Rimbey, will appear in court on April 5 to speak to the charge.
More copper wire thefts
Officers responded to a complaint of theft of copper wire from an oil lease site northeast of the Leedale Hutterite Colony on Feb. 12. Someone stole a large amount of wire in green plastic coating. Another copper wire theft was reported on Feb. 13, from a site near Secondary Highway 771 east of Rimbey.
Between 2:30 and 4 a.m. Feb. 13, criminals were skulking around Rimbey breaking into cars and committing other shenanigans. The midnight shoppers then got their car stuck in a snowdrift in the Rimbey Co-Op parking lot. The thieves jumped the fence and stole a truck inside the compound and drove it through the locked gate. The stolen truck was used to pull the stuck car out of the snow. The suspect vehicle used during the crime spree is described as a four-door dark colored sedan with damage to the front driver’s side of the car.
Arson destroys ATV
Police are investigating the arson of a Polaris side-by-side ATV that was found abandoned near Centerview Road in a farmer’s field. The off-road vehicle had been burnt to the ground.
Meth use suspected in other crimes
Rimbey RCMP are concerned that several crimes recently have been connected to the use of meth by the individuals stealing items to support their drug habits. Officers have made numerous arrests in recent months and have been seizing illegal narcotics: including meth, marijuana and cocaine.
Your local detachment is still working diligently to reduce drug use in the community.
If you have any information on these or any other crimes, please call the Rimbey RCMP at (403) 843-2224 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, #8477 on Telus Mobility or *8477 on Rogers AT&T.
Crime Stoppers is a community program that does work! Do your part and call now.