The Rimbey RCMP dealt with 52 calls for service. This roller coaster of a week involved many domestic disputes, assaults, break and enters, suicide, uttering threats and other difficult situations for members during the holiday season.
Criminals return to the scene
Police were running day and night last week investigating numerous break and enter complaints at opposite ends of the detachment jurisdiction.
West of the Blindman Hall on the Iola Road thieves driving a truck with mudder tires under the cover of darkness attempted to break into unoccupied residences and sheds. When the criminals were unable to get into locked items they returned later in the week with tools to cut the locks and chains for access. Police are actively pursuing leads and trying to track down those responsible for these crimes. Also, during the night of Dec. 20 at Gull Lake, thieves cut locks off storage sheds and entered a premise being constructed in the Parkland Beach area where they stole tools from the scene.
Christmas drunks arrested
Two more impaired drivers were arrested and charged with criminal driving offences. A 49-year-old woman, a resident of Rimbey, was arrested driving herself home from a Christmas party and blew over three times the legal limit. The other was a 28-year-old man, a resident of the Bluffton area, who was arrested for being impaired by drugs and for dangerous driving. In this case, the man drove his truck through multiple fences back and forth across a county roadway. He was arrested on scene inside the truck.
Police apprehended a man northeast of Bluffton on a lease site who was possibly impaired by drugs. After police investigated the matter, the man from the Edmonton area was taken to the hospital for a mental disorder and his vehicle towed.
Domestic disturbances investigated
There were several domestic situations this week where assaults had allegedly taken place. In many cases, there were charges laid for assault, uttering threats, criminal harassment, etc. In some cases, child service intake workers were also involved.
Vehicle burgled
Again, someone with sticky fingers was out shopping after midnight and stole a handheld computer device from a vehicle. In this case, the owner remembered to lock the doors but forgot the window was down enough for the delinquent to reach in and unlock the door. Please ensure your vehicles and garages are locked at all times. Remove valuables from your car so it does not become a target for these opportunistic thieves. Police have charged and convicted several people recently in Rimbey for these types of crimes but they continue to occur. If you see someone car prowling, please call 9-1-1.
Mounties get their Snowman
On a lighter note, police have been seeking a stolen Frosty the Snowman who was abducted from a store on Main Street in Rimbey. At the time it was reported, police searched high and low and were unable to locate the jolly fellow. A tip received from a very observant citizen led police to his hiding place. When police returned Frosty to his owners, they were very pleased and said, “The Mounties not only always get their man — they also get their Snowman!” Officers are following up on the leads and hope to arrest the Grinch(es) involved in this caper soon.
Check Stops will continue through the upcoming week, so please don’t drink and drive. Have a safe and happy new year.
If you have any information on these or any other crimes, please call the Rimbey RCMP detachment 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.