The crimes RCMP are investigating occurred between July 6 and 16 and include thefts, use of stolen property and vehicle thefts in Kelowna, B.C., Hanna, Alta., and communities throughout central and southern Saskatchewan, according to a news release from the RCMP sent on Thursday. On July 8, RCMP received a report of fuel theft in Wynyard, Sask., which is just under 192 kilometers southeast of Saskatoon. Officers responded, saw a truck they said was the suspect vehicle and turned on their emergency lights. As police caught up behind the truck, the vehicle crashed into the cruiser, RCMP said. The truck driver refused to get out of the vehicle and RCMP said he would eventually hit other parked vehicles before driving back into the front corner of the police vehicle and fleeing eastbound on Hwy. 16. No injuries were reported in the incident and neighboring RCMP detachments were notified of the fleeing vehicle. RCMP in Yorkton, located about 190 km northeast of Regina, were able to locate the truck several times in Yorkton. The truck did not stop for police vehicles and at times attempted to drive away at high speeds, RCMP said. At around 10.45pm on July 8, the truck was found abandoned on a road east of Yorkton. Police said they later learned the truck had been stolen in Broadview, Sask., on July 6 with the license plate found on the vehicle originally reported as stolen on July 8 in Springside, Sask.
More stolen vehicles
Police said two more stolen vehicles — a white SUV stolen from a property just outside Yorkton later on July 8 and a black Ford F-150 truck — were also later linked to the incidents in Yorkton. The white SUV was found abandoned July 10 in Eston, Sask., a small country town closer to the Alberta border, while the black Ford F-150 was reported stolen from a farm property in Tyner, SK, on July 9. As part of the RCMP investigation, crime analysts were asked to see if there were any other related incidents, the news release said. Based on their review, there may be at least 23 incidents across Western Canada linked to the same suspects, RCMP said, including:
Vehicle thefts in Yorkton, Kipling, Tyner and Bethune, Sask. Stolen vehicles found in Chamberlain, Yorkton and Tyner, Sask., and Kelowna, BC Fuel thefts in Viscount, Wynyard and Chaplin, Sask. Flight by officers in Whitewood, Foam Lake, Yorkton, Belle Plain and Swift Current, Sask. Thefts from vehicles in Regina Use of stolen credit card in Hanna, Alta.
A map of the 23 incidents police believe are connected to the suspects who rammed a police vehicle in Wynyard, Sask., on July 8, 2022. (RCMP) RCMP are continuing to investigate, but have identified two persons of interest. One is a man described as having blond hair, a thin build and a tattoo on the left side of his neck. No further details about the tattoo are available at this time, police said. The second person is a woman described as having blond hair with dark roots and a slim build. Police asked anyone who recognizes these individuals to contact their local RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
