A rash of thefts from vehicles dominated police files in a week in which much of the public attention was on the disappearance of Creston’s Lana Chipesia and the death of search and rescue technician Sheilah Sweatman.
“There was an unusually high number of thefts from vehicles, both locked and unlocked,” Const. Shelley Livingstone said. “We ask the public to take precautions by locking their vehicles and keeping an eye out for suspicious activity.
Creston police responded to 104 calls from June 27-July 3, Livingstone said, only moments before she left her RCMP office to participate in a helicopter search along Goat River for signs of the missing Chipesia.
June 27
•A backpack and contents were stolen from a vehicle in the 900 block of Devon Street.
•Alpine stereo equipment was stolen from a locked vehicle in the 1000 block of Northwest Boulevard.
•Two Caterpillar earth-moving machines were stolen from a construction site at the intersection of Highways 3 and 3A. Tracks indicate a trailer was brought on to the site to facilitate the theft.
•A report from a Gray Creek resident indicates that shots were fired after a white pickup truck left a property in the 13000 block of Highway 3A. The complainant recovered two spent shotgun shells from the vicinity.
•A purse, cash, jewelry, credit cards and a cellphone were stolen from a vehicle on Kootenay River Road after its rear window was smashed.
June 28
•Three males were chased off a Devon Road residence early in the morning of June 26, leaving behind items including a jacket, radio beacon, headset, saw and hat.
•Sony and Pioneer stereo equipment was stolen from a vehicle in the 1100 block of 10th Avenue North.
•A 1997 white and yellow Sea-Doo was stolen from the 1600 block of Canyon Street. The trailer it was sitting on was left behind.
•The possible theft of food from a freezer was reported at an Erickson Road residence.
•Three intoxicated males were located drinking under the Goat River bridge on Highway 21. Two minors were turned over to their parent and a 20-year-old was taken to a residence.
June 29
•A female complained of harassment after words were written in the dirt on her car.
•An intoxicated male was arrested in the 1600 block of Canyon Street as he attempted to light a cigarette with an iPod.
•Two wallets stolen from a vehicle on Devon Street were later found in the bush near the residence.
•A Stihl 66 and a Stihl 39 chainsaw were stolen from a shed in the 200 block of 21st Avenue South.
July 1
•The driver of a GMC was issued a ticket for failing to yield after colliding with a Chevrolet Silverado on Highway 95.
•Police were called to the hospital when a male was found taking photographs in restricted areas.
•A vehicle stolen in Invermere was located in the 900 block of Cedar Street.
•A 57-year-old male was issued a 90-day driving prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days when he was found to be driving impaired at 16th Avenue and Dogwood Street. He also faces charges of driving with no insurance and the incorrect licence plate.
July 2
•A 1995 Lincoln Conti-nental with smashed windows was abandoned in Centennial Park.
•A driver who admitted to having smoked marijuana was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition and the vehicle was impounded when he was stopped in the 1600 block of Hillside Street.
•The driver of a 2003 Honda Odyssey was issued a speeding ticket and the vehicle was impounded for seven days after he was clocked at a speed of 168 km/h near highways 3 and 21.
•Police were called to a youth party at the Kootenay River Road ferry landing.
July 3
•Three youths who attempted to break into a truck in the 300 block of Third Avenue South could not be located.
•When a resident called out to a male who was riding off on a bike he stole on 25th Avenue, he responded, saying “It’s a long walk home,” before continuing on his way.
•Items including a Tom-Tom GPS were stolen from a vehicle on Crusher Road.
•A golf cart stolen from the Creston Golf Course was found burned in the 1800 block of Lloyd Road.