Police arrested two suspects, including one from Squamish, and are seeking others in connection with a recent series of thefts and burglaries in Whistler and Pemberton.
The two - a 29-year-old from Squamish and a 46-year-old from Kelowna - were arrested on Saturday (Oct. 15) in Pemberton after a series of property crimes in that community, Squamish RCMP Sgt. Wayne Pride said in a statement. An unspecified amount of methamphetimine and tools used in the burglaries were seized in the arrest.
A snowmobile and copper welding cable were among the items stolen from the industrial park area in Pemberton, while some other businesses there were targeted unsuccessfully, Pride said. The two were part of a group that had also targeted the Whistler area, resulting in the theft of a Polaris snowmobile from the back of a truck.
The two stolen snowmobiles were recovered from Whistler after the suspects fled from police, who had attempted to stop and arrest them. The suspects had used a U-Haul truck that was rented in Squamish for their spree. After the Pemberton arrests, that truck was located in Squamish, being driven by the remaining suspects, who fled on foot when Squamish RCMP attempted to stop them, abandoning the vehicle, Pride said.
The two men who were arrested are facing charges of break and enter, theft, and drug possession, he said. Anyone with information about the spree or the remaining suspects is asked to contact Squamish RCMP at (604) 892-6100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Items recovered
On Monday (Oct. 17), police responded to a report of an overnight break, enter and theft at a business in the 2400 block of Mamquam Road. Someone had entered a building by prying open a window and stolen a computer, printer, scanner, Interac machine, alcohol, juices and snack food, Pride said.
On the same day, police had recovered a stolen trailer that had been taken from the 1100 block of Edgewater Drive in North Yards. The trailer was attached to a vehicle when it was found. Inside, police found some of the items that been stolen in the Mamquam Road burglary.
Tires, rims stolen
On Wednesday (Oct. 12), police received a report that tires and rims from five trucks at a car dealership in the 1100 block of Hunter Place were missing. Sometime between Tuesday (Oct. 11) at 10 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 a.m., someone had stolen the tires and rims and left the trucks sitting on blocks, Pride said.
Man arrested
A 39-year-old Squamish man is facing a charge of attempting to pass a stolen cheque after he allegedly tried to pass such a cheque at a nearby Money Mart. On Friday (Oct. 14), police received a report that cheques had been stolen from a business mailbox in the 30000 block of Queens Way. Pride said police believe the cheque that the man attempted to cash is "related to the theft."
Assault charge likely
One Squamish man suffered undisclosed injuries and another is facing an assault charge after a fight outside a bar in the 40000 block of Tantalus Road on Sunday (Oct. 16) at approximately 2 a.m. The participants - a 19-year-old and a 24-year-old Squamish man - were known to each other, Pride said. The 19-year-old is facing a charge of assault, while the victim was taken to Squamish General Hospital to be treated for his injuries.
