In only three months, the number of car thefts in the city doubled compared to the same time last year. So far in 2015, there have been 84 thefts from motor vehicles. There were 48 in the first three months of 2014.
In one week alone, between March 26 and April 2, RCMP responded to 13 thefts from vehicles in St. Albert. That’s a noticeable jump from the four cases during the previous week, Cpl. Laurel Kading stated in an email to the Gazette.
It’s suspected that the number of thefts from vehicles is even higher because many residents don’t report them. The RCMP asks residents to call them even if there may not be much evidence for the police to check. This will help them analyze crime trend patterns.
While no suspects have been identified, it is believed that most thefts occur because cars are left unlocked. Loose change, insurance and registration cards, GPS, iPods and cellphone chargers are among the list of stolen items.
"Lock your vehicle doors, park them in lit areas and remove your valuables from your parked vehicles,” says Kading. "Unlocked vehicles and vehicles with valuables left in them attract criminals to your neighbourhood and put you and your neighbours at risk."
Anyone with information about these crimes can call the St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700, or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
A woman sustained minor injuries after a car hit her on Tuesday afternoon.
The 41-year-old woman was crossing Inglewood Drive on a marked crosswalk around 4:25 p.m. on March 31. She was hit by a black 2006 GMC Cobalt operated by a 25-year-old male driver, who was making a right-hand turn from Inglewood Drive onto Bellerose Drive.
The woman was not transported to the hospital. The male driver was charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks but St. Albert traffic services warn to keep an eye out for drivers not paying attention.
The Rednex Bar & Grill in Morinville was robbed on Wednesday, April 1 at around 11:10 a.m. A male wearing blue safety coveralls, a black balaclava and a yellow hard hat entered the store and demanded money from the lone staff member.
The man did not show a weapon but was believed to have one. He then left out the back of the bar and fled toward 100 Street. He is described as six-feet tall with light hair and light eyes.
Morinville RCMP requests the public’s assistance. Anyone with information can contact police at 780-939-4520.
