Prince George, B.C. – Thefts of trucks are on the rise in Prince George. 

 

Tuesday morning, Prince George RCMP received calls about two pick up trucks that had been stolen. In both cases, the trucks were late 1990’s Dodge models and both were stolen from the driveway of the owners home, one on the 2800 block of Athlone Avenue and the other the 1200 block of Bednesti Crescent.

 

Police received a call back from one of the vehicle owners who advised that he had sighted his truck, being driven near 15th Avenue and Ospika.  RCMP immediately attended the area.  The stolen vehicle and driver were spotted a short time later.  The driver of the vehicle began to drive erratically at the sight of a police vehicle.  While fleeing the area, the driver of the stolen pick-up ran a stop sign and caused a minor collision between two other vehicles at the intersection of Pinewood Avenue and Ospika Boulevard.  No injuries were reported.

 

The driver of the vehicle continued to take dangerous action to avoid capture, including crossing three lanes of roadway in order to run directly towards a police officer in a fully marked police car.  The RCMP officers did not pursue in order to maximize public safety.

 

Police received a report of an erratic driver driving the wrong way down highway 16 near Ferry Avenue (11-7559).  Police believe this to be the stolen vehicle.  Within a short period of time, the stolen vehicle was located unoccupied in a parking lot near the junction of Highway 97 and Highway 16.  Officers at the scene identified the second stolen truck parked in the same lot and were able to determine through evidence that both vehicle thefts were associated to one another.

 

"In most instances, the people who steal vehicles have no regard for public safety or even their own safety.  Their only concern is not getting caught"  - Sgt. Al Steinhauser, Prince George RCMP Traffic Services

 

In the month of March, 36 vehicles have been stolen or attempted stolen within the Detachment area of the Prince George RCMP.  Of those 36, 23 have been either Dodge pick-up trucks (1995 to 2001) or Ford pick-up trucks (1992 to 2010) including the two above.

 

"These pick-up trucks are clearly being targeted by a small group of thieves in Prince George.  Although we are confident we have some of them in custody, there are others that have not yet been caught"  -  Sgt. Darren Oelke, Prince George RCMP Crime Reduction Team

 

The attached list of Dodge and Ford pick-up trucks outlines which truck, where it was stolen from and if it has been recovered, where it was recovered.  This list does not include the two trucks above.

 

March 2   - 2010 Ford pick-up stolen 1000 block of Patricia Boulevard - Recovered in Kamloops (11-5152)
March 4   - 2006 Ford pick-up stolen 3100 block of Vista Ridge Drive - Recovered on Collena Street (11-5303)
March 5   - 2005 Ford pick-up stolen 100 block of King Drive - Recovered 7900 Otway Road (11-5419)
March 8   - 1999 Dodge pick-up stolen 2600 block of Quince Street - Recovered (11-5621)
March 8   - 1998 Dodge pick-up stolen 100 block of North Tabor Boulevard - Recovered at Forests For The World (11-5692)
March 8   - 1997 Dodge pick-up stolen 1100 block of Limestone Crescent - Recovered at Forests For The World (11-5701)
March 11 - 1997 Dodge pick-up stolen 1700 block of Larch Street - Recovered on Minotti Drive (11-6003)
March 12 - 1997 Dodge pick-up stolen from the 4100 block of Bellamy Road  -  Recovered on a Forest Service Road (11-6002)
March 12 - Attempted theft of a 2005 Ford pick-up from 2100 block of Gregory Place (11-5999)
March 16 - 1998 Dodge pick-up stolen 2600 block of Links Drive - Recovered at the Hart Community Centre (11-6319)
March 17 - 1999 Dodge pick-up stolen 1700 block of Norwood Street - Recovered at B & E on Tedford Road (11-6483)
March 18 - Attempted theft of a 1995 Dodge pick-up from 1400 block of Connaught Drive (11-6573)
March 18 - 1998 Dodge pick-up stolen 6800 block of Tedford Road - Recovered on the 1400 block of Edmonton Street (11-6587)
March 19 - 1992 Ford pick-up stolen 1100 block of Francois Crescent - Recovered on the 1700 block of Redwood Street (11-6711)
March 22 - 2001 Dodge pick-up stolen 2600 block of Hollandia Drive - Recovered near 17th and Queensway (11-6886)
March 22 - 2000 Dodge pick-up stolen 3500 block of 15th Avenue - Recovered on Enemark Crescent (11-6899)
March 26 - Black 1997 Dodge pick-up stolen from the 1900 block of Clearwood Crescent  -  NOT RECOVERED BC licence plate BB5704 (11-7396)
March 27 - Blue 1995 Dodge pick-up stolen from the 9000 block of Lattman Road  -  Recovered on Christenson Road (11-7476)
March 27 - Attempted theft of a 2000 Ford pick-up from 2500 block of Ridgeview Drive (11-7373)
March 28 - Attempted theft of a 1999 Ford pick-up from 2800 block of Oak Street (11-7482)
March 30 - Blue 1992 Ford pick-up stolen from 20th Ave & Central St  -  NOT RECOVERED BC licence plate CM9945 (11-7668)

 

Some of the vehicles were recovered, some were missing parts such as wheels and tires, and anything of value has been removed from the passenger areas.

 

The Prince George RCMP would like to ask all vehicle owners to use an anti-theft device including alarms and immobilizers and to contact ICBC or click here, or  here,  form more information on how you can prevent your vehicle from being stolen: