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Petty thefts hallmark of summer season

Ponoka RCMP briefs
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A Ponoka man will be back in court to face 18 charges relating to several rural break and enters last month.

Caleb Shimwell, 20, was arrested June 20 and charged with numerous counts of break, enter and theft over $5,000, possession of stolen property over $5,000, trafficking stolen property and mischief as well as charges for failing to comply with a probation order.

On May 27, a pair of rural properties were broken into. A Yamaha Grizzly 550 quad as well as another Yamaha ATV and a generator were stolen from a Ponoka area property, while a truck and Yamaha 50cc bike along with a welder, tools and other items were taken from a Wetaskiwin area property.

A third shop was broken into on May 29 where a vehicle had been stolen.

Fortunately, as a result of the RCMP investigation, all of the items were recovered and returned to the owners.

Shimwell had made an appearance already and was released from custody. He is scheduled to appear in Ponoka Provincial Court to answer to the charges on July 19.

Briefs

Residents are being reminded to ensure their doors, garages and vehicles are all secured following a string of incidents over the weekend.

Officers from the Ponoka RCMP were called to four separate residences on June 22 to follow up on a couple of break-ins plus a theft of a vehicle.

While nothing was reportedly taken after a garage was broken into along 60 Ave., some small items were missing from a vehicle break-in on 63 St. followed by a licence plate being stolen from another vehicle on that same street.

Also that day, police attended a property located on Township Road 431 east of Ponoka to follow up on a report of a stolen truck. The 2011 Dodge Ram with a black flat deck is still missing and RCMP are continuing to investigate.

RCMP also dealt with a motorcycle crash that day, where a motorcyclist failed to negotiate the Hwy. 53 westbound off-ramp from Hwy. 2.

Officers reported the driver was going too fast entering the off-ramp and going off the pavement into a ditch before winding up in a nearby field. After reaching the field, the motorcycle slid causing the driver and his dog to fall off.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old man is facing a count of mischief after RCMP responded to a call of a disturbance in progress on June 24.

As officers arrived at a home on 48 Ave. in Ponoka, a man was seen throwing a chair out of a front window where a number of other broken items were also laying.

Upon entering the home, officers found a second man laying unconscious and medical assistance was called.

The man, who has not been named pending a court appearance, is now charged with mischief under $5,000.