Clyde has become a hotspot of activity lately, and not for the right reasons. In recent days, the village has seen a number of vehicles stolen, to the point where it seemed there was one stolen every day. While Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt.
Clyde has become a hotspot of activity lately, and not for the right reasons.
In recent days, the village has seen a number of vehicles stolen, to the point where it seemed there was one stolen every day.
While Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Bryan Clayton said that there have been a lot of stolen vehicles in the village over the past few days, it's not just vehicles disappearing - there have been a number of stolen vehicles being found in the village as well.
However, he said although Clyde might be a hotbed of thefts right now, it's part of a larger problem that extends in all directions.
"It's not just Clyde," he said. "There are other vehicles abandoned out in the rural areas or even stolen vehicles abandoned in the Town of Westlock as well. It's just not Clyde, it's all over."
Outside the county, he said there have been vehicles disappearing from communities like Redwater, Barrhead and Athabasca.
At the moment, Clayton said RCMP have persons of interest they are investigating, but there isn't much more that can be said on that.
"We're not quite sure it it's the same group or the same people that are involved in all of it or not," he said.
Clayton also confirmed that there have been three or four cars deliberately set on fire in the county over the last few months.
"They've been stolen from other areas, brought into the rural area around Westlock and for whatever reason are burned or torched," he said.
In the case of these arsons, he said it's hard to sort out exactly what happened until police have identified persons of interest. That's where the public's help is most needed, he said. Unless suspicious activity or vehicles are reported or encountered by chance, there's only so much the police can do to prosecute those people involved.
"Again, we encourage people - property owners, farmers or people living in town - just to be alert in your own neighbourhood for suspicious activity or suspicious vehicles," he said.
If they do see something that looks amiss, Clayton said the best thing to do is contact police immediately and not wait until later.
"Don't be afraid to call right away," he said. "Some people will see a suspicious vehicle at three in the morning and they'll wait till the next day to call. If they call right away when they spot something we can at least try to go check it out."
When it comes to protecting your own property, Clayton said it all comes down to common sense - don't leave valuables where they can be seen, and lock your vehicle if you're going to leave it unattended. "I think a car thief would much rather target a vehicle that's not locked or a vehicle that has property that's in plain sight rather than one that is locked and doesn't appear to have anything inside," he said.
