Clearwater RCMP received a call on Friday, May 30 at 3:05 p.m. from an Ontario man advising his phone had just been stolen from a sports shop in Clearwater.
“A man had come in and after he left, the complainant noticed his phone missing from the counter," said detachment commander Grant Simpson reports. "The male was driving an older green pickup with a flat deck."
Simpson noted the complainant followed the male to the liquor store and confronted him; the male stated he did not have the phone.
"A short time later, via the ‘Find my phone’ app it showed the phone at a specific address on Auldgirth Road, East Blackpool. Police checks showed a known male living there and that he owned a green 1991 Mazda B2600 pickup. While en route to his residence, Const. Van Woudenberg came across Thomas, (the resident on Auldgirth Road), driving back towards Clearwater. Thomas provided the phone, stating he didn't know how it ended up in his possession. Const. Van Woudenberg warned him about possible consequences should he be found with stolen property again. The phone was returned to the complainant."
Sgt. Simpson noted on Saturday, May 31 at 8:06 a.m., Clearwater RCMP received a call from a Little Fort woman advising someone broke into the sports shed at the Little Fort Community Hall sometime overnight.
"There were no witnesses, surveillance or suspects," Simpson said. "Const. Van Woudenberg attended and took photos. The door was forced open, and it appears someone pushed something like a broom handle through the roof in two spots. The complainant advised there had been a padlock on the door, which wasn't found. Nothing else appeared to be missing.”
A file number was provided, and photos added to the file, Simpson added.
“Of note, a vehicle was observed in Little Fort between 4:30 to 5:00 a.m. on May 31. The B.C. plate came back stolen from Penticton. Two unknown males were observed on the video. Const. Van Woudenberg believes it likely these two were responsible for the damage, but there was no video at the community hall to confirm it.”
Simpson said the same vehicle was observed in a theft file in Kamloops around 11:00 a.m. and the investigation is ongoing.
In total the Clearwater RCMP responded to 30 calls this past week.
On Sunday, June 1 at 12:08 p.m., Clearwater RCMP received a call from another Little Fort woman advising sometime overnight their vehicle, a green F250, had had its gas tank drilled and the fuel drained.
While they had been out on the porch until around 9:00 p.m. nothing suspicious was observed.
There was no surveillance or witnesses, Simpson noted, adding Const. Van Woudenberg spoke to a local resident regarding closed circuit video, who reviewed it and confirmed it was the same males from Clearwater file 2025-552 noted above, and it had been drilled at 4:58 a.m. the morning before.
A photo was sent by the complainant and added to the file, Simpson noted, and said charges will be forwarded once the males are located and identified.
This matter is still under investigation, Simpson confirmed.
