Estevan police are crediting the power of social media and public assistance in helping locate two stolen pickup trucks and arresting a suspect.
Deputy Chief Warren Morrical said both thefts involved larger pickup trucks, which were taken after the door handles or doors were damaged, and the ignition was tampered with.
"In both cases, both vehicles were actually taken by damage to the handles or the door itself, as well as damage to the ignition in order to start and move the vehicle," Morrical said.
The thefts occurred within the last month to six weeks. Thanks to witness statements, observations from the public, and tips called in to RCMP and local police, authorities were able to track down both vehicles.
"The power of the public, effectively, has been harnessed and has allowed us, through witness statements and observations made by the public, to locate the vehicles," Morrical said.
In one case, police were able to locate the stolen vehicle, while in the second case, an assist from the Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP helped track down and arrest the suspect associated with the stolen truck.
"In this case, both vehicles were processed forensically for evidence," Morrical said. "What I can tell you at this point is that the investigation is ongoing, but physical evidence from both vehicles does appear to identify the same individual as the suspect, and that person is currently in custody."
When asked why trucks seem to be a common target, Morrical said it is not entirely clear why these two specific vehicles were stolen, but noted that thieves often target trucks with visible tools or valuable components.
"Typically, what we have been seeing is vehicles that have a large number of tools, for example, either visible in the cab or in the box of the vehicle," he said. "Certainly, higher-end, larger trucks have components that are saleable."
In one of the cases, modifications had been made to the stolen vehicle to change its appearance. "Certainly, the items that were removed would have been sold to other individuals down the road," Morrical added.
To reduce the risk of vehicle theft, Morrical advises people to lock their doors and ensure that valuable items are not visible inside the cab.
"If you have tools that need to be in that vehicle for work purposes, cover them up, secure them, lock them—out of sight, out of mind," he said. "If you're not able to do that, then my best advice is parking in well-lit areas. If you're parking in public, being aware of your vehicle, knowing where it's at, and checking on it from time to time is a great idea as well."