Central Alberta car dealership facing thousands in damage after break-in
A car dealership in Rocky Mountain House is dealing with tens of thousands of dollars in damage after a thief stole a pick-up truck from inside the building.
Last Tuesday at approximately 1:40 a.m., RCMP received an alarm call from Edward’s Garage Chevrolet dealership, located in Rocky Mountain House. The dealership owner, Brent Kennedy, was at home asleep, but rushed to his business.
“When I went inside, I could see that there’s a pick-up truck that was no longer there, and that the RCMP were doing their investigation,” Kennedy said.
The theft was caught on surveillance video. It shows a Dodge pick-up truck, which was allegedly stolen out of Red Deer, approaching the main doors of the dealership and nudging them open.
“We’ve had previous thefts,” Kennedy said.
“But, I’ve never had a vehicle that was used to break into our building before.”
Once inside, the thief is seen rummaging through the front desk area until he finds keys to a vehicle. The person then proceeds to walk towards the main doors expecting that the keys are to a vehicle that is parked outside. However, the remote keys turn on the lights for a pick-up truck parked inside the building, a new GMC Sierra. He then gets into the truck and drives through the exit doors.
Once outside, video appears to show the man load up gas cans from the previous truck into the new GMC Sierra and drives off.
Rocky Mountain House RCMP later located the stolen GMC Sierra on Highway 11 and attempted to stop the vehicle. However, the driver failed to stop for police. Police then used a tire deflation device in the area of Swanson and disabled the pick-up truck which was empty. The RCMP Police Dog Service and Rocky Mountain House RCMP officers later located and arrested him.
Waylon Daniel Whitford, 27, is facing multiple charges related to the incident:
- Break and enter commit theft
- Theft of motor vehicle
- Possession of stolen property exceeding $5,000
- Mischief over $5,000 (x2)
- Flight from police
- Operate conveyance in a manner dangerous to the public
- Operate a conveyance while prohibited
- Possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public
- Resist arrest
- Fail to comply with conditions of release (x8)
- Break and enter commit theft
- Mischief under $5,000
Police say Whitford was released from police custody, hours before the incident at Edward’s Garage Chevrolet, following a judicial hearing related to another investigation.
“Why was he let out of jail?” asked Kennedy.
“He just turned around and perpetrated another fairly substantial crime.”
Kennedy estimates close to $50,000 in damage.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.