RCMP are investigating a Flin Flon-Creighton crime spree that saw thieves flee with three snowmobiles and an ATV amid a string of garage and shed break-ins.
Sometime during the late hours of Sunday, Feb. 14, and early hours of Monday, Feb. 15, individuals stole three snowmobiles on or near Fourth Avenue in Creighton.
One of the snowmobiles was later recovered in Flin Flon. Police believe the thieves either ran out of gas or decided to leave the machine behind before stealing an ATV from North Avenue and returning to Creighton.
RCMP subsequently located the ATV abandoned near the Phantom Lake Golf Course. The two remaining snowmobiles were later found in Pelican Narrows.
During the same time frame as the snowmobile
and ATV thefts, someone broke into at least eight garages and sheds in Creighton. Broderick Avenue, Elander Avenue, Collins Street and Creighton Avenue were targeted.
The break-ins mostly involved doors being kicked in, police said.
RCMP believe the snowmobile thieves were behind the break-ins. Among the items stolen was a safe from inside a vehicle parked in a garage. When the ATV was taken from North Avenue, a chainsaw was stolen from the same property.
Police believe the thieves may have been looking for fuel for the snowmobiles.
Later in the day on Monday, police in Pelican Narrows pursued individuals riding the two remaining stolen snowmobiles.
One of the thieves crashed a snowmobile into a tree but managed to flee into the bush with a friend on the other snowmobile.
The next day, Tuesday, that snowmobile was found abandoned near Pawistik Lodge, about 55 km west of Creighton. It had been trashed, its skis damaged and its track destroyed from reckless use.
When RCMP encountered the crashed snowmobile back in Pelican Narrows, they discovered a safe strapped to it. It was the same safe that had been stolen from Creighton.
By then police had recovered the ATV and the chainsaw that had been stolen along with it. The chance discovery came after an officer saw a Facebook post by a person who had observed two seemingly drunk people on an ATV at the Creighton soccer field.
RCMP have been known to monitor Facebook, in part to see whether stolen items are being put up for sale. In this case, the officer used the information to search for, and find, the ATV, still in good condition, near the golf course.
The keys had been thrown in the snow about 20 feet away. A keychain made them visible.
Mounties have two suspects in the crime spree – a male adult from Flin Flon and a male youth from Pelican Narrows – but had not laid any charges Wednesday as their investigation continued.
Police had indications that additional break-ins had yet to be reported. Anyone who sustained a break-in is asked to contact their local RCMP detachment.
Police ask anyone with information on the thefts and break-ins to call their local detachment or Crime Stoppers at
1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Callers to Crime Stoppers need never reveal their identity and may become eligible for a cash reward.
