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
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.