Port Alberni RCMP were kept busy over the Christmas period with several break-ins and a theft of a vehicle.
On Christmas Eve, a vehicle was located abandoned in suspicious circumstances at the intersection of Ash Main Road and Stirling Arm Drive. The vehicle was identified as having been stolen.
Later that night, as a result of the inquiries involving the recovered stolen vehicle, it was determined that culprits had broken into a building at 5600 Shoemaker Bay Road, which houses three separate businesses (Kurtis Leroy Trucking, J & L Auto and Don Woodfin Log Transport).
A significant quantity of tools have been reported stolen, with an estimated value of approximately $70,000. Police are continuing their investigation, including the use of Forensic Identification Specialists.
On Dec. 26, West Coast Cleaners had its inner office door forced open sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The cash register and a point of sale terminal (debit/credit card reader) were stolen from the office.
Police are continuing their investigation, including reviewing video surveillance and using Forensic Identification Specialists.
The theft of a 16’ aluminum Grade 3 ladder was reported to Port Alberni RCMP by Canadian Tire on Wednesday, Dec. 27. In reviewing available security video footage, the theft occurred at 11:50 a.m. on Christmas Day.
Two suspects were observed driving up to the secure compound in a white SUV. One suspect was wearing a white jacket and black hat and was approximately 5’10” in height. The second suspect was wearing a purple winter jacket with fur on the hood.
A break, enter and theft was also reported by Proactive Industrial Services on Wednesday. Sometime between December 26 at 8 p.m. and December 27 at 10:30 a.m., someone cut through the chain link fence at the company’s compound and entered a rear door to the premise. Approximately $3,000 worth of tools were stolen from the business, including Milwaukee cordless and electric power tools.
Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424, or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Port Alberni RCMP received four calls of suspicious occurrences overnight between Dec. 27 and 28, including suspects checking parked vehicles, another running from the front doors of West Coast Medical Centre and another trying the doors of a residence on Gertrude St.
The RCMP sincerely appreciate Port Alberni residents calling police in circumstances such as these, which may have prevented crimes from occurring.
Port Alberni RCMP have also received a number of calls of possible impaired drivers from the start of the Christmas holiday continuing through to Dec. 28. The RCMP want to extend their thanks to citizens and visitors to the area who have called in these hazards and would like to remind callers to pull over to a safe location before calling in erratic and possibly impaired drivers. Location, licence plate numbers and province of issue, vehicle descriptions, and direction of travel, along with observed driving behaviour are all very helpful to police officers attempting to intercept the driver.
As New Year’s Eve approaches, the RCMP encourage everyone to have fun and stay safe. Pedestrians need to wear reflective clothing and carry flashlights with them. This is not new messaging, but there continue to be a lot of pedestrians wearing black or other dark non reflective clothing out on the streets, which is always made worse in foggy and wet conditions. Reflective clothing and flashlights can help drivers clearly see pedestrians, whether on the street, in cross walks, parking lots or other public spaces.
For potential drivers, if you drink alcohol or use illicit drugs, don’t drive. Make alternate arrangements for your transportation and avoid tragedy that can devastate so many. Port Alberni RCMP will have additional personnel on the roads, detecting and apprehending impaired drivers and conducting general traffic enforcement to help keep the community’s roads safe.