Fast-acting homeowner helps Salmon Arm RCMP in triple theft

SALMON ARM — A Salmon Arm homeowner, who was the victim of an ATV theft, figured the best way to get help was to create some noise.

After seeing thieves drive away with his ATV from his yard, he ran out of his house, jumped into his car and followed the thieves while honking his horn in order to draw attention, and it worked.

Just after midnight on Monday, police responded to a report of a vehicle with its horn honking repeatedly as it traveled the streets on the southeast side of Salmon Arm.

RCMP attended to the area at Old Auto Road and 7 Ave SE. They located the owner of the ATV. He had been the one honking his horn to get people to call police.

The man pointed police to a Mazda pick-up truck and utility trailer sticking out of a snowbank at the road’s edge.

The man said when he began following the two suspects, they sped away and eventually lost control of the compact truck and trailer due to road conditions.

“The suspects were last seen fleeing into a wooded area after abandoning their ill-gotten booty. Police were unable to locate them,” said S/Sgt Scott West in a press release.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The suspects were last seen fleeing into a wooded area after abandoning their ill-gotten booty. Police were unable to locate them," said S/Sgt Scott West in a press release.

Police says the quad had been loaded onto a stolen trailer which was being towed by a stolen pick-up truck.

All three stolen items had been taken from separate locations around Salmon Arm.

The ATV and trailer were returned to their owners undamaged. The stolen truck did not fare so well as a result of the would-be criminals tucking it into the snowbank.

“We recommend that you lock your cars and trucks, invest in a locking device for your trailers , lock up your ATV’s and keep them out of sight. Doing any or all of these things makes it harder for thieves to target you or your property,” said West.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We recommend that you lock your cars and trucks, invest in a locking device for your trailers , lock up your ATV's and keep them out of sight. Doing any or all of these things makes it harder for thieves to target you or your property," said West.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Salmon Arm RCMP or Crimestoppers.