Youth arrested in thefts from vehicles

Special to the Post

Edson RCMP have made an arrest in a case of ‘car hopping’ in the Town of Edson. On January 14, 2017 an observant local business owner noticed a man looking in to and trying the door handles of vehicles around his business and called 911 to report it to Police.

The information, which included a detailed description of the man’s clothing and his last direction of travel, allowed Police to act quickly and make thorough patrols in the area. This led Police to witnessing a man matching the description crouching between vehicles and then attempting to gain entry to them. Police quickly apprehended the man and recovered a number of suspected stolen items from him.

“We know these crimes have a huge impact on the community, especially with the frequency of which they are posted about on local social media pages,” states Cst. Alex Ayres of the Edson RCMP Detachment. “We want to remind the public to not only ensure their vehicles are locked at all times, but to contact us immediately when you witness suspicious activity or have become the victim of a crime. As evident in this matter, the promptness of which we received detailed information was crucial in making an arrest.”

Edson RCMP are asking vehicle owners who have had their vehicles rummaged through, especially those in the area around and between 48th Street from 4th Avenue to 10th Avenue, to contact or attend the Edson RCMP Detachment to report the crime and any missing items. Police have recovered property that is believed to have been stolen from vehicles in this area and are seeking to ensure they are returned to their rightful owners.

A youth, who cannot be named, is expected to face criminal charges of theft, mischief, trespassing at night, and possession of marihuana and cocaine.