A break-in and theft recently took place at Autobot Sales Inc. in Burns Lake. Two vehicles - a pickup truck and a Dodge car - and $500 were stolen.
Perpetrators entered the building by breaking the back door’s window on the night of Nov. 17, 2016.
That same night, a Burns Lake RCMP officer was out doing patrols around town when he discovered a pickup truck in the ditch on Boer Mountain Road. Inside the vehicle were an impaired driver and young passengers. The RCMP officer had the vehicle towed.
The next morning, when Autobot Sales reported the break-in to the RCMP, police realized that the pickup truck recovered the night before belonged to Autobot Sales.
The other stolen vehicle was recovered that same morning behind an apartment building on Fifth Avenue in Burns Lake.
According to staff sergeant Charlotte Peters with the Burns Lake RCMP, only two offenders were involved in the break-in and theft, despite a group of people being found in the stolen pickup truck.
Peters said both offenders are locals - one is an adult who is currently in custody and the other is a young offender who is “in conditions where he has to reside in a group home in Prince George.”
Peters said both vehicles have now been released back to the owner. As for the $500 cash stolen, Peters said there will be a “request for restitution” that will go through the court process as part of the individuals’ sentencing.
According to Autobot Sales owner Doug Waters, the Burns Lake RCMP did an excellent job.
“I was quite impressed,” he said.
Waters said this was the first time that a break-in occurred at Autobot Sales.
Despite the financial setback, Waters said Autobot Sales’ Christmas giveaway - an annual event where Autobot Sales donates a car to a person or family in need - will still take place this Christmas.
Last year, Autobot Sales donated a 2006 Dodge Caravan worth $6000 after receiving 65 nominations.