Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
August 23, 2023 - 2:36 PM
Police in Kamloops have recovered $10,000 with of firefighting equipment and arrested a youth in connection to the thefts.
Officer were called to a theft in progress in the 1400 block of Hugh Allan Drive at around 2:35 a.m. yesterday, Aug. 22, where firefighting equipment, an automated external defibrillator or AED and medic kit were stolen from a pair of parked vehicles, according to an RCMP media release.
“The items stolen were directly related to local wildfire response,” Kamloops RCMP Supt. Jeff Pelley said in the release.
Firefighting equipment had been stolen from the same location the day before. A black truck was spotted in both thefts.
Then at about 4:40 a.m. yesterday, officers called to another theft in progress saw a truck matching the same description. It turned out to be stolen.
Police arrested a youth, known to police, inside the truck. Two men had taken off on foot before the officers arrived.
A pellet rifle, medic bag and AED, along with a bag of wildfire gear from one of the previous thefts was found in the truck.
The youth has been released from custody.
“It is extremely disheartening to see these crimes occurring and potentially hampering the efforts of those who are trying to protect life and property in extremely dangerous and volatile environments,” Supt. Pelley said.
“We will be working proactively with our partners and the public to ensure that those found responsible for any thefts affecting the ability of firefighters on the frontlines are held to full account, with zero tolerance displayed for such senseless criminal acts.”
Anyone with information about these thefts, or any others that may be related, is asked to contact the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.
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