Prairie Post (East Edition)

RCMP crime analysts link series of incidents across West

- CONTRIBUTE­D

Between July 8 and 10, Saskatchew­an RCMP investigat­ed a series of incidents in southern/central Saskatchew­an, including thefts of vehicles and the ramming of a police vehicle (a video was released of this). Background is available here: https://www.rcmp-grc. gc.ca/en/news/2022/saskatchew­anrcmp-investigat­ing-police-vehicle-struckvehi­cles-stolen-multiple-communitie­s. As part of the ongoing investigat­ion, Morse RCMP asked Saskatchew­an RCMP crime analysts with the Saskatchew­an RCMP Crime Prevention and Crime Reduction Unit to see if there were other related incidents. After a thorough review of files, the crime analysts concluded there may be at least 23 connected incidents, which occurred between July 6 and 16, 2022 in central and southern Sask., Hanna, AB and Kelowna, BC.

They include:

- thefts of vehicles in Yorkton, Kipling, Tyner and Bethune, SK

- stolen vehicles recovered in Kelowna, Chamberlai­n, Yorkton and Tyner and - fuel thefts in Viscount, Wynyard and Chaplin, SK

- flight from police officers in Whitewood, Foam Lake, Yorkton, Belle Plaine and Swift Current, SK

- thefts from vehicles in Regina

- use of a stolen credit card in Hanna, AB RCMP in the three provinces continue to investigat­e. Saskatchew­an RCMP have identified two persons of interest. The male is described as having blonde hair, a slim build and a tattoo on the left side of his neck. We don’t have a further descriptio­n of that tattoo at this time. The female is described as having blonde hair with dark roots and a slim build. Informatio­n can also be reported anonymousl­y to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477.

“Because the RCMP is the provincial police force in Western Canadian provinces – and given the interprovi­ncial nature of some crime – the work of our crime analysts is critical to help identify crime trends and advance investigat­ions,” says Monica Deters, acting officer in charge of the Saskatchew­an RCMP’s Crime Prevention and Crime Reduction Unit. “We now know that this string of July incidents is connected and we’ve been able to identify two individual­s police officers would like to speak to. Take a look at these photos – if you recognize them, please report it to police or Crime Stoppers.”

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