Trail and Greater District RCMP weekly report - 2024-02-06

Trail RCMP requests assistance identifying two persons of interest

File # 2024-322

Trail and Greater District RCMP is asking the public to help identify the two women in the attached three photographs that are believed to be connected to a recent purse theft and $3900 fraud, in Rossland, and Trail, BC. The vehicle associated to these two women is a 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara bearing BC licence plate TR054A.

UPDATE: On February 9th, 2024, Trail RCMP were able to identify the suspects in the below surveillance. Their investigation is continuing.

Trail RCMP continues to investigate this crime and its connection to other recent motor vehicle thefts from parking lots on Highway 3B, in Rossland, BC.

If you know the identity of the women, or have any information to share about this crime, please contact the Trail Detachment at 250-364-2566 to speak to an investigator.

Original Story:

File # 2024-322

On Friday, January 26, 2024, at 3:21 p.m. Trail and Greater District RCMP received a report of a smash-and-grab to a vehicle parked in the parking lot of the Strawberry Pass along Highway 3B, in Rossland, BC.

The owner had been hiking in the area and, when she returned to her vehicle, she discovered that her vehicle window has been smashed. The suspect(s) stole her wallet, bank cards, and identification then used her bank cards to purchase $3900 worth of items.

These matters remained under investigation by Trail RCMP.

Every year thousands of vehicles are broken into and stolen. Any valuables left in the open can make your vehicle an appealing target. To help deter at thieves and theft, please consider the following tips:

Be aware that the items stolen most from vehicles include smartphones, personal electronics, tools, credit cards and identification, stereos, cash, car parts and accessories, sunglasses and keys.

• Never leave your keys unguarded.
• Park in secure, well-lit areas whenever possible.
• Remove valuables from vehicles.
• Keep your garage door open out of sight, or better yet, with you!
• Use a vehicle immobilizer or steering wheel lock. New vehicles should have an immobilizer installed already.
• Do not store a spare key in or on your vehicle.
• Vehicle alarms will draw attention and help scare off thieves.

For more information, visit: https://www.icbc.com/road-safety/prevent-autocrime

Break, enter, and theft to building in downtown Trail

File # 2024-365

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at 8:29 a.m. a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer received a report of an alleged break, enter, and theft that occurred overnight in the 1100 block of Cedar Avenue, in Trail, BC. Several computers were stolen from an office space inside the building. Thieves were believed to have gained access into the building through an insecure entrance.

RCMP Forensic Identification Service attended and conducted a scene examination.

Video surveillance cameras captured two suspects wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks leaving the crime scene with bags containing the stolen computers. The last known direction of the suspects was toward Tamarack Avenue.

If you have any information about this crime, the whereabouts of the computers, or know the identity of the suspects, please contact the Trail Detachment at 250-364-2566 to speak to an investigator.

We ask business owners to secure their businesses with good locks, bright lighting, video camera surveillance, and an alarm system. Trail RCMP believes that business owners having a good opening and closing routine to ensure your business is left protected every day is very important in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Every year, the RCMP attends thousands of false alarms that were triggered by accident. If you have an alarm system, please make sure that you have a current property representative or a security officer to respond if the alarm is activated. Please make sure that the property representative or security officer understands what is expected of him/her when an alarm is triggered, and has a process to verify if the police need to attend. The RCMP is not always alerted to every alarm and may not be dispatched.

There is a new program through the BC government and BC Chamber of Commence that may assist small business owners in achieving better security. We would like to thank our partner Trail Chamber of Commerce for alerting us to the government program focused on reducing crime targeting small business, says Sgt. Wicentowich

If you are looking for assistance in making your business more secure, or receive help with damage from vandalism, please check out the Province of BC and BC Chamber of Commence Securing Small Business Rebate Application Guide available via link through the Trail Chamber of Commence: https://www.trailchamber.bc.ca

Slippery criminal steal slippery loot

On Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officers responded to a report of a 30-year-old Trail man allegedly shoplifting condoms, lubricant, and band-aids from a business located in the 1500 block of Second Avenue, in Trail, BC. Unfortunately for the man, the employees knew his identity and reported it, and the theft, to the police.

An officer quickly located the man, with the alleged stolen condoms sticking out of his jacket pocket. The man sprinted away from the scene despite being identified and called out by name by the officer. He did not let that deter him as he led several officers on a wild foot pursuit around downtown Trail. The man eventually ran out of room to run, was cornered, and arrested by police without further incident.

The pursuit lasted some time. It turns out the man was as slippery as the products that he stole, says Sgt. Wicentowich We informed him afterward that local service providers hand out condoms for free.

Shopping lifting arrest leads to drug and weapon charges against a 37-year-old Trail man

File # 2024-397

On Thursday, February 1st, 2024, at 2:11 p.m., a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer received a report about a man who allegedly stole a large quantity of meat from a business in the 1600 block of Marcolin Drive, in Trail, BC. The officer conducted an investigation and obtained a photograph of the suspect. The photograph was disseminated to other police officers in the Trail and Greater District.

File # 2024-420

On Friday, February 2nd, 2024, at 6:51 p.m., a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer was conducting a routine patrol on Spokane Street, in downtown Trail, BC, when she observed a vehicle that displayed a temporary insurance operating permit in its rear window. The officer observed that the permit was not properly displayed and appeared to be inactive. The officer detained the driver and vehicle roadside.

The officer observed that the driver, a 37-year-old Trail man, matched the description of the suspect in the recent meat theft. The officer detained the man for further investigation. Another officer arrived on scene to assist with the investigation.

During the investigation, the officers discovered a set of brass knuckles in the man’s possession. The officers arrested the man for possessing the illicit weapon. A search of the vehicle located 27 grams of a substance believed to be street drugs.

The officers took the man in custody without incident and he was later released.

The 37-year-old Trail man will make his first appearance on Jul 18, 2024, in Provincial Court, in Rossland, BC, and faces theft, drug, and weapon related criminal charges.

I think this guy now realizes his all-meat diet was bad for him, says Sgt. Wicentowich

Trail RCMP arrest 44-year-old on outstanding warrants

File # 2024-432

On Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 5:15 p.m. a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer conducting a routine patrol in the 1900 block of Martin Street, in Fruitvale, BC, when he observed a known 44-year-old man sitting inside a vehicle being driven by a 48-year-old Trail man. The officer was aware that the 44-year-old had outstanding warrants for his arrest and had been actively avoiding the police. The officer detained the occupants and vehicle roadside. Additional officers arrived on scene to assist with the arrest.

Officers arrested both men and took them into custody. A search incident to arrest located 21 grams of a substance believed to be street drugs, drug trafficking paraphernalia, weapons, ammunition, body armour, and cash.

The 44-year-old passenger was later released from police custody, while the 48-year-old who was known to police was held in police custody and is facing several criminal charges.

It took some time but this time the Mounties finally got their man, said Sgt. Wicentowich.