There has been a recent rash of rural thefts of large ticket items including two brand new Polaris snowmobiles.
The string of high-end thefts appears to have begun in August when the tires from a 1960s Minneapolis U tractor were stolen in the RM of Saltcoats. The tires had been purchased at an auction sale in April. Between then and September when the purchaser showed up to collect them, an unknown male approached the property owner claiming the tires were his. He was driving a white truck pulling a rusty fifth-wheel open trailer.
Sometime between October 14 and November 29 a black, 25-foot open gooseneck tandem trailer with eight total wheels was stolen from an open area approximately one mile north of Yorkton.
The suspect or suspects would have had to tow the trailer with a fifth wheel setup.
On October 14, several pieces of construction equipment and tools were stolen from a construction site located one mile north of Theodore.
The thief or thieves made away with two gas powered tampers, a Wacker Neuson and a LF82 Dynapac; two three-inch water pumps with hoses by Honda and Ducar; an Xstream 9,000 watt generator; a Black and Decker electric impact gun; tow straps; a chain; and a first aid kit. The combined value of the equipment is in excess of $5,000.
Most recently, during the weekend of November 29, thieves gained entrance to the compound of Discovery Motorsports by cutting a hole in the fence. They then unloaded a 2014 Polaris RMK Assault and a 2014 Polaris Pro RMK, both red and white in colour, off a trailer and drove the machines out through the cut fence heading north.
Cpl. Tim Schwartz of the Yorkton rural RCMP detachment said it is an unusual amount of activity in the area, but does not know if the thefts are related.
He said the usual suspects for these kinds of crimes are currently in jail and investigators are looking for the public’s help solving these thefts.
Schwartz also had some advice for property owners to make sure security systems are up-to-date and operational, to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to police.
Persons with information on these or any other crimes can call the rural detachment at 306-786-4500 or their local police service.
Tips may also be reported anonymously to Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477, *8477 on SaskTel Mobility, by texting TIP206 plus a message to CRIMES (274637) or submitted online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com. If information leads to an arrest or a case being cleared, the reporter may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
