Thieves targeting Semler’s on Highway 654

WESTLOCK – Semler’s, situated on the Westlock County and Barrhead County boundary, has been targeted by thieves and had two trucks stolen in December.

Semler’s has a used equipment business along Highway 654 outfitted with bright lights and several cameras and yet suspects have been on the property several times trying to find something to steal.

“There were three events. One of them, they didn't steal anything, but they were scoping it out,” said Jason Semler, owner and sales manager.

All of the incidents have been reported to the Westlock RCMP.

In the first event on Dec. 2 a red 2011 Dodge 3500 dually truck was stolen by two thieves.

The suspects were driving a two-tone Chevy Silverado.

The camera pictures of the suspects were blurred by movement and their features could not be identified.

In the second event on Dec 10 at 1:50 a.m. nothing was stolen but two thieves were caught on camera checking for open unlocked vehicles.

The suspects turned lights off and were scoping out vehicles in the yard in their truck.

They stopped their truck to get out but one of the night shift employees walked out of the building just at the right time and the thieves took off.

They were driving a black Ford F350 Dually Platinum with custom rims as per Semler in his Facebook page.

In the third event on Dec. 19 there were three thieves, and they stole a burgundy 2017 Dodge Ram 2500.

Semler was able to capture pictures of the suspects and the truck they were driving, a black Ford F350.

The red 2011 Dodge 3500 dually truck has been recovered and RCMP advised Semler that the burgundy 2017 Dodge Ram 2500 truck was seen in Morinville.

The Semler operation was experiencing between three and five incidents a month a few years ago.

They installed the elaborate camera system and incidents all but stopped until recently.

Semler mentioned that one of the thieves was wearing only a t-shirt in the cold winter weather on the Dec. 19 incident which seemed odd to him.

The Rural Crime Watch website shows that there have been 14 motor vehicle thefts in Westlock County in January so far this month.

The highest number of thefts in one day was four on Jan. 8.

Barrhead County reports six vehicle thefts this month and Athabasca County shows four vehicle thefts in the same period.