Image Credit: CFJC Today

By James Peters

Auto Theft

After 51 per cent jump in auto theft reports, Kamloops RCMP crack down

Nov 3, 2022 | 4:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — RCMP say the number of stolen vehicle reports in Kamloops is skyrocketing.

In a news release, detachment spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn says there were 496 stolen vehicle reports during the 12-month period ending last month.

That’s 31 per cent more than the year previous and 51 per cent more than two years ago.

Evelyn says that explosion in auto theft activity is why a provincial team, the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT) collaborated with the detachment’s Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) on a week-long crackdown last month.

From October 17 to 21, eight IMPACT members joined CRU members, bringing specialized equipment and expertise in an effort to focus on auto theft.

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“Because we’re unfortunately running very high on the number of vehicles stolen from Kamloops, IMPACT reached out to see if we would be interested in this joint partnership,” said CRU’s Sgt. Jason Pole. “Having a team like that in town to focus on one task – stolen vehicles — inevitably get results because they can really concentrate without the distraction of all the requirements placed on frontline police officers.”

The partnership yielded results with two people arrested on Oct. 18. At about 7:00 a.m. that day, RCMP responded to a report of a stolen blue Ford F-350 pickup from the 900-block of Singh Street. When the truck was spotted in the 200-block of Victoria Street later that morning, RCMP made their arrests.

Kamloops residents Evan Leigh Davis, 27, and Douglas Laurence Jackson, 37, are each facing a series of charges.

Later that week, on Oct. 20, RCMP made another arrest in an auto theft investigation. John Robert Beauchemin, 26, of Kamloops is facing one count each of auto theft and prohibited driving.

“A big part of this joint initiative was providing a teaching experiencing to CRU members,” said Pole. “It allowed the local team to learn more tips and techniques to help catch auto thieves and prevent them from doing business in Kamloops.”