Penticton police track down suspects in daylight vehicle thefts

PENTICTON – Penticton RCMP dealt with several brazen vehicle thefts last week.

The detachment received a phone call from a Penticton towing company on Wednesday morning, March 2, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. The operator of a tow truck said he had received a call from someone at Cherry Lane Mall who claimed to have locked himself out of his vehicle, and needed help to get back in.

The operator arrived and was on scene when the actual owner of the vehicle came out of the mall. The would-be thief took off down the street, but police were able to track him to a Kinney Avenue residence where he was found to be suffering from mental health issues. The man was arrested and taken to Penticton Regional Hospital for treatment.

The next day a man called police from the Husky gas station on Main Street around 11:10 a.m. to report his 2008 Ford F350 pickup with Alberta plates had been stolen. He said a woman had jumped off a bike and took off with the truck from the gas station.

Members of the RCMP’s new targeted enforcement unit followed the vehicle to Secrest Place, where they apprehended and arrested the 19-year-old Oliver woman. She was charged with theft over $5,000.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, March 5, a man reported the theft of his 2001 Mercedes from the mall parking lot. The man had left his jacket with his vehicle keys in it, on a bench in the mall, walking away from it for a short period. When he returned to the bench, it was gone.

He went out to the parking lot, and after reassuring himself his vehicle was still there, he called his wife for another set of keys. After her arrival, they both went out to the parking lot to find the vehicle gone. Police determined a 40-year-old female was seen taking the jacket from the bench.

On Sunday night, March 6, police discovered the Mercedes parked behind the 7-Elevn on Skaha Lake Road at Green Avenue. Witnesses were able to identify the occupant, who had been seen running towards Skaha Lake. The woman was subsequently arrested and released on a promise to appear.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.