PENTICTON – Thieves appear to be targeting Ford trucks in the South Okanagan, and RCMP believe this rash of stolen trucks is related to other thefts as well.

A man who left his 1995 Chrysler Intrepid to warm up at the Holiday House Motel returned to find it missing at approximately 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, Jan. 6, Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. A set of business keys were taken along with the vehicle. The licence plate number is 126 MXM.

A Baskin Street resident had his truck broken into around 2:45 a.m., Jan. 7. A witness saw a man enter the truck then leave in a dark sedan. The plate number matched that of the Intrepid stolen the day before. A Garmin GPS, Eliminator booster pack, a 400-watt converter and a flashlight was taken.

A Ford F150 was broken into and a .22 calibre rifle stolen in Okanagan Falls on Jan. 7. Fuel from an ATV parked in a garage was also taken. A neighbour on Maple Street in Okanagan Falls also reported a grey Ford Ranger pickup was taken from a garage the same night.

The Anavets Club reported a suspicious vehicle located by police on Brunswick Street on Jan. 7. The blue F150 pickup had a smashed window and ignition punched. A man known to police was observed climbing into the driver’s seat and starting it. He was arrested and faces charges of possession of stolen property. The suspect also had a stolen fuel card with him, and police later recovered a quantity of stolen gas at a location west of the Channel Parkway.

On Monday, Jan. 11, a woman driving a grey Chrysler 300 left the vehicle running as she dropped her child off at daycare, only to have it stolen. The vehicle was discovered in an alley in Okanagan Falls later in the day.

Cpl. Dan Moskaluk, a spokesperson for the South East District, notes a rash of stolen pickup trucks over the past several weeks is believed to be related to a number of thefts at businesses and residences as well. ATVs, trailers, expensive machinery and personal belongings have all been stolen and RCMP are looking for anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the Princeton, Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos and Okanagan Falls areas. He warns Ford F-series truck owners to be especially vigilant in protecting their vehicle from theft.

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