RCMP are on the lookout for a Fountain Tire branded truck after a brazen morning theft from Fountain Tire in Drumheller.
Owner Joanne Hodgson said at around 6:50 a.m. on Tuesday, January 15, two individuals in ski-masks drove a truck through the shop’s bay doors and stole a Fountain Tire GMC truck before driving away in the two vehicles.
RCMP say later in the evening, the burgundy Ford F350 used in the incident was involved in rural fuel thefts which “culminated in a male being apprehended at a farm and the truck seized.” The male was arrested and taken to hospital.
The at-large stolen Fountain Tire truck has since been linked to a rash of offences in the Three Hills and Bashaw area and police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating the truck and suspect.
Fountain Tire staff say they feel violated, particularly since the theft happened so close to operating hours, with staff arriving there at around 7:30 a.m.
“We’ve experienced things like this before but not at this magnitude or extent, especially at that time of the morning,” said Hodgson. “I can be thankful my staff was not hurt.”
Fountain Tire’s Damian Boon said the truck is “a rolling billboard” and wondered why anyone would steal it and use it to commit further crimes.
“Who can fathom… In a sense you’d say it’s dumb but in another way they were pretty damn lucky about it.”
If the suspect is located that the public should not approach them as RCMP believe the suspect is armed and dangerous, said Drumheller RCMP Corporal Rachel Pergunas in a release. If anyone has information regarding the truck or suspect, they are asked to contact 911 or your local police station.
