Two Squamish women are facing charges of possession of stolen property and extortion in connection with the alleged theft of items from a vehicle, followed by an apparent attempt to extort money from the victim.
On Thursday (Sept. 6) at around 8:30 p.m., Squamish RCMP received a report of the daytime theft of items from a vehicle that was parked in the Stawamus Chief parking lot, RCMP Sgt. Wayne Pride wrote in a statement.
A window of a vehicle belonging to visitors from California was smashed and a computer and other miscellaneous personal items were stolen, Pride said.
On Saturday (Sept. 8), the victim contacted police and said that he had received a phone call from someone advising that the caller(s) knew where the stolen items were and that he could get them back for $2,000. A follow-up investigation resulted in the arrest of two Squamish women, aged 29 and 39, who were described as "well known to police." Police are pursuing charges of possession of stolen property and extortion, Pride said.
Electronics stolen
On Thursday at around 4:30 p.m., police were informed of the theft of a number of electronic devices from a vehicle that was parked on the Chief apron parking lot near Highway 99. A passenger-side window was smashed and an Apple MacBook Pro in a brown and orange case was stolen, as was an IPhone 4. The theft occurred between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Tires, rims taken
On Saturday, police received a report of the overnight theft of four rims and tires from a 2003 Saturn that was parked at an auto sales lot in the 1100 block of Enterprise Way. The vehicle was left on blocks. Police are investigating the possible involvement of a 31-year-old Squamish man, who was seen in the area in the early-morning hours, Pride said.
Vehicle recovered
Police last Tuesday (Sept. 4) recovered a vehicle that is believed to have been associated with a break-and-enter earlier that morning at an electronics store at 1200 Hunter Place. Last week, The Chief reported that police had chased the vehicle south on Highway 99 before losing track of it. Later that day, an abandoned Honda Civic was found in the walk-in area of Porteau Cove Provincial Park. Police confirmed that it had been stolen from Manitoba and bore licence plates that were stolen from a vehicle in Vancouver, Pride said.
Woman assaulted
On Saturday at around midnight, police received a report of a woman having been assaulted at a home in the 39000 block of Government Road. Police attended and the alleged assailant was not present. However, a 52-year-old man is being charged with assault in connection with the incident, Pride said.
