Westlock RCMP were kept busy over the holiday with a reported baker’s dozen of break and enters between late December and early January.
At least five of the break-ins occurred in Westlock, while two were reported in the Fawcett area, including the Hidden Valley Golf Course.
In Westlock, thieves hit Kal Tire and Windsor Plywood in addition to residential homes.
None of the thefts were over $5,000.
While it’s not unusual to see an increase in thefts around Christmas, the number of thefts this year is notable, said Westlock RCMP Const. Rick Buisseret.
“It’s higher than usual, for sure,” Buisseret said.
While some of the crimes have similarities, RCMP do not necessarily believe the same individual is to blame.
“A lot of the rural ones are break and enters to sheds or outbuildings,” Buisseret said. “Right now, it’s not safe to assume anything.”
Items reported missing include propane, lumber, a water heater, electronics, machinery and, in one case, cash left in a till.
Westlock’s Bill and Glo Madson were among those targeted. The couple woke up the morning of Jan. 5 to find their garage door had been kicked in overnight.
Although nothing was stolen, the incident left them concerned.
“We can’t see if anything was taken. The garage was full of tools. If something is missing, I won’t know until I need it,” Bill said.
The same morning, a mini ATV was stolen from a nearby house.
The owner woke up to scrape the snow off his car and noticed the machine’s tracks leading from the garage.
The suspect was captured by a nearby home security camera and RCMP are looking for a man, 5’10”, medium build.
At the time, the suspect was wearing a medium brown work coat with a hood and black track pants with white vertical stripes down the side.
Police encourage anyone with information on the crimes to contact Westlock RCMP at 780-349-4492 or anonymously through Crimestoppers.
