Lake Country tree thieves caught in the act | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna News

Lake Country tree thieves caught in the act

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Two Lake Country men have been arrested and banned from entering any local parks after they were accused of butchering trees in Jack Seaton Park.

RCMP picked up the scent after seeing social media posts about the trees being cut down and hauled away for firewood.

At 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, Jan. 2, an officer patrolled the area and spotted marks in the snow in the 10000 block of Tyndall Road. Those showed the trees had been dragged through the snow to the road, bucked up then removed.

There were about 13 fresh-cut tree stumps in the vicinity and one freshly cut tree left leaning against others.

Photos from witnesses helped identify the thieves’ vehicle, RCMP said.

“Later in the day the officer patrolled the area, and this time observed the two male suspects actively engaged in removing freshly cut trees from the park,” reads an RCMP news release. “The officer arrested both males who now face charges of theft under $5,000.”

Further charges are possible.

“This officer took the time to follow local social media which helped identify a public concern,” Const. Mike Della-Paolera, media relations officer with the Kelowna RCMP, said in the release. “The RCMP is encouraging citizens to call police directly when witnessing suspicious activities in our parks, for example the sound of chain saws.”

Anyone with information about the tree cutting is asked to call RCMP detachment at 250-766-2288 and reference file 2023-216.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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