Police are seeking suspects who fled the scene of one attempted vehicle theft and may have got away with another.
On Thursday, Aug. 31 at approximately 3:20 a.m., Salmon Arm RCMP received a report of a suspicious vehicle with two people inside, parked in a local neighbourhood. Two investigating officers found the vehicle, unoccupied, and with licence plates belonging to another vehicle.
Shortly after, the officers saw a man walking away from a motorcycle on 1st Ave. NE.
“As soon as the male realized that the approaching vehicle was a police car, the male bolted,” reports Salmon Arm Staff Sgt. Scott West.
The officers then saw a Chevy Corvette back out of a nearby parking stall. West said the driver of the Corvette proceeded to ram the RCMP cruiser.
“The male driver of the Corvette revved the engine, spinning the tires as it plowed into the police car,” said West. “The Corvette thankfully stalled and the driver of that vehicle ran from the scene as well.”
A search for the two men was conducted with help from a police dog but was unsuccessful.
Later, at 6:55 a.m., a resident contacted police to report his vehicle, a white 2006 GMC Sierra extended cab pickup truck with B.C. licence plate KW8863, had been stolen overnight from the area of Auto Road and 20th Street SE.
West said police are investigating the connection between the suspicious vehicle, the attempted theft of the Corvette and motorcycle and the theft of the pickup truck.
“At this time, all indicators lead investigators to believe that this was the work of the two individuals who ran from police on 1st Ave. SE,” said West. “If you locate this vehicle, please do not attempt to apprehend the occupants. Instead, please call 911 and report the location immediately.”