Police briefs

Morinville firefighters work on the scene of a single vehicle collision July 11. – Luci eRoy Photo

By Morinville News Staff

Morinville – It was a busy week for the Morinville RCMP detachment last week. Collisions and thefts kept members busy on the vehicle side of things; break and enters and commercial thefts kept them travelling throughout Sturgeon County taking incident reports.

Corner crash
A single vehicle collision July 11 left a Chevrolet Cavalier and a park bench destroyed, and a young Morinville man facing possible charges.

Constable Yelena Avoine of the Morinville RCMP Detachment said a Morinville Peace Officer attended the scene around 2:30 p.m. last Wednesday afternoon as the RCMP members were all engaged elsewhere. On his arrival, the peace officer found an eastbound vehicle had crossed the sidewalk and struck the park bench on the Sobeys corner of 100 Avenue and 100 Street.

Avoine said it is not know what caused the 19-year-old Morinville driver struck the bench. No one was injured and the collision and alcohol was not a factor in the incident. The RCMP officer said once the investigation is concluded it is likely the driver will face charges under the Traffic and Safety Act.

The name of the driver is not being released at this time.

Jurassic heist

Gibbons – Morinville RCMP responded to Jurassic Forest outside Gibbons early July 11 to find someone had cut the lock on the park gate to gain access. Once inside the individual(s) pried open a vending machine and two dinosaur rides to obtain the money boxes from the three machines.

No attempt to gain access to the business’ main building appears to have been made.

More rural break-ins suspected to be part of same crime spree

Sturgeon County – RCMP responded to another two rural break-ins last week. On July 9 police responded to a complaint in the Range Road 234 and Township Road 561 area. Those responsible for the crime gained access to the home by kicking in the door to an attached garage. Once inside the residents, the individual(s) entered the master bedroom where they stole a large quantity of jewelry, a laptop, and other items exclusively from the bedroom.

The owners of the property had gone away for the weekend. Neighbours did not detect any suspicious activity over the weekend to alert them to trouble.

“It really looks like other similar reported break and enters that we’ve received in the past two, three weeks,” said Constable Yelena Avoine, adding it appears people are travelling through Sturgeon County during the daytime, knocking on doors to see if anyone is home. “If there’s no answer, they kick the door. They go in and take mostly jewelry.”

Theft of gas

Sturgeon County – RCMP responded to a break and enter at a gravel business near Villeneuve on Secondary Highway 633 July 10.

Arriving on scene, the members found the lock had been cut on the company gate. The lock on a fuel container had also been cut and the contents drained.

A vehicle, left on the property overnight, had its back window smashed and the truck rummaged through for valuables. The forensic identification attended the scene to look for prints.

While dealing with the break and enter, police discovered the business located next door, also a sand and gravel operation, had its gate compromised and its fuel tank drained.

Police believe the incidents took place between 11 p.m. July 9 and opening time the next morning.

Theft of truck

Morinville – A bright yellow pick-up truck was reported stolen from a 93 Street residence July 10. The 2006 Ford pick-up was parked in front of the residence near 101 Avenue the previous evening and was not to be found the following morning. The truck was last seen around 11 p.m. July 9.

Police report the complainant indicated a maroon pick-up truck had been seen in the area the previous day. The truck seemed suspicious at the time; however, not much more was thought of it at the time.

The Morinville RCMP are asking the public for assistance in solving these crimes. Anyone with information on any of these incidents is asked to call the Morinville Detachment at 780-939-4520 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

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