Weekly Report: Monday, February 27 to Sunday, March 5, 2023, inclusive.

Please note all information below occurred within the time period above, unless otherwise noted.

Saskatchewan RCMP – Your Provincial Police Service

Fuel thefts up 70% in 2022

In 2022, Saskatchewan RCMP received approximately 818 reports of thefts of fuel (diesel and/or gas), an increase of approximately 70% as compared to 2021.

These reports were received from all across the province and include:

  • 510 reports of someone fuelling up a vehicle at a service station, then leaving without paying. (Note: this excludes reports where investigation determined the person left without paying due to misunderstanding or oversight.)
  • 117 of reports of theft from large fuel tanks or heavy machinery, either by siphoning or drilling the tank.
  • 106 reports of theft from bulk fuel tanks at businesses, farms, or rural municipalities.
  • The remainder include reports including thefts of jerry cans and similar containers.

Saskatchewan RCMP received reports of fuel thefts from across the province. The detachments with the highest number of reports are Battlefords (61), Saskatoon (58), Shellbrook (46) and Swift Current (39).

Reports of fuel thefts have continued in 2023, including two incidents of gas tank drilling reported to Punnichy RCMP on February 27.

Saskatchewan RCMP offers the following tips to help prevent fuel theft:

  • Lock privately-owned fuel tanks and ensure the area they are located is well lit.
  • Set up video or photo surveillance in areas where you have a privately-owned fuel tank.
  • If possible, park vehicles in a locked garage or outbuilding or park in a well-lit, frequently-travelled location.
  • Park with your fuel door facing a frequently-travelled road.
  • If possible, don’t park in one area, or leave a vehicle unattended to, for an extended period of time.
  • If your vehicle has an alarm, activate it when you leave your vehicle unattended.
  • Report suspicious activity to police: even if it does not involve your own vehicle, if you see suspicious activity occurring, report it.

Investigative Recap

Ongoing missing person investigations. Saskatchewan RCMP continues to ask for public assistance locating the following missing individuals:

February 21: At approximately 9 a.m., Battleford RCMP responded to the report of a firearms threat at a residence located on the 900th block of 110th Street in North Battleford, SK. Initial investigation determined two suspects, who were armed with firearms, made threats to an individual at the residence. No injuries were reported. Upon police arrival, officers located and arrested a 26-year-old male wanted on a Canada-Wide warrant for a parole violation, unrelated to the original report of the firearms threat. Officers located and seized an air pistol and a shotgun from the residence. The investigation continues and members of the public are asked to report information about this incident to Battlefords RCMP at 306-446-1720. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

February 26: At approximately 6 p.m., an officer with Saskatchewan RCMP’s North Battleford Crime Reduction Team was on patrol on Sweetgrass First Nation. The officer observed a pick-up truck which had been reported as stolen to Battlefords RCMP earlier that day. The officer activated their emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled.

The officer continued to patrol and located the truck parked on the side of a gridroad near Delmas, SK. Two males exited the truck. The passenger was arrested without incident but the driver refused to comply with the officer’s commands and began yelling and throwing bullets, by hand, at the officer. The male then barricaded himself in the truck. Additional officers arrived on scene and attempted to have the male surrender. He refused and officers executed an arrest plan and safely took the male into custody without injury to him and the responding officers.

As a result of continued investigation, 44-year-old Delroy Thunderblanket from Sweetgrass First Nation is charged with:

– one count, taking motor vehicle without the consent of owner, Section 335(1), Criminal Code;

– one count, flight from peace officer, Section 320.17, Criminal Code;

– one count, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, Section 320.13(1), Criminal Code;

– one count, operation while prohibited, Section 320.18, Criminal Code;

– one count, resist/obstruct peace officer., Section 129(a), Criminal Code;

– one count, mischief under $5,000, Section 430(4), Criminal Code; and

– one count, weapons possession contrary to order and fail to surrender authorization, Section 117.01(3), Criminal Code.

He is scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on March 10, 2023 (Information #90496741). The passenger was released without charge. Officers from Battlefords RCMP and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan assisted with this investigation.

February 27: Saskatchewan RCMP WEST arrest male form Quebec wanted on a Canada-wide warrant

March 3: At approximately 2:15 a.m., Wakaw RCMP received a report of a break-and-enter in the RM of Fish Creek, west of Wakaw. Investigation determined two males broke into a residence and several nearby outbuildings and stole approximately 10 firearms and some tools and electronics. No injuries were reported to police. The males then fled westbound on Highway #312 in a black pick-up truck. Officers issued a local advisory on the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Network to advise residents in the area of the incident, to be on the lookout for the black truck and to report suspicious activity to police.

Wakaw RCMP continue to investigate with the assistance of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Forensic Identification Services. Anyone with information should call Wakaw RCMP at 306-233-5810. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

March 3: As a result of investigation by the La Ronge RCMP General Investigation Section, search warrants were executed at two residences on Royal Avenue in the La Ronge district. Officers located and seized approximately 150 grams of cocaine and crack, a sum of cash, trafficking paraphernalia, bear mace and a replica handgun. An adult male, who initially provided a false name to police, was arrested at one of the residences. 26-year-old Abdiaziz Mohamud from Toronto is charged with:

– one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;

– one count, possession of property obtained by crime less than $5,000, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code;

– two counts, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(1), Criminal Code; and

– one count, obstruct peace officer, Section 129(a), Criminal Code.

He is scheduled to appear in La Ronge Provincial Court on March 6, 2023 (Information 90500711).

March 3: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes investigating homicide in Battleford

March 4: At approximately 4:30 p.m., Beauval RCMP received a report of a firearms discharge at a residence on La Plonge First Nation. Investigation determined a white car with a green tarp covering one of the windows approached a residence. The occupants discharged a firearm at the windows of the residence, which was occupied at the time. No injuries were reported to police. Officers from Beauval RCMP and neighbouring detachments immediately began searching for the vehicle, which investigation determined had been reported as stolen from Prince Albert. The white car was found abandoned and burnt south of Prince Albert later in the evening of March 4. Investigators do not believe this incident is random in nature, however if an elevated risk to community safety is identified, Beauval RCMP will alert the public. Anyone who witnessed or has information about this incident should call Beauval RCMP at 306-288-6400. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

March 5: At approximately 1:00 a.m. Nipawin RCMP were dispatched to an alarm call at a school in Nipawin. Officers immediately responded and noted damage to several classrooms and changerooms. A number of computers were damaged, desks and chairs were thrown around and walls were graffitied.

Officers patrolled the nearby area and as a result of investigation, arrested and charged one female youth with one count of break and enter, Section 348(1(b), Criminal Code. The youth, who can’t be identified as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is scheduled to appear in Nipawin Provincial Court on April 19, 2023 (Y408098).

Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Nipawin RCMP at 306-862-6270. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

 Incidents in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction February 27 to March 5, 2023

Please note: the statistics below are representative of reports received within the Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction. They are from the RCMP records management system and are accurate as the day they are collected. Crime statistics are regularly updated due to changes in reporting procedures, changes in ongoing investigations, etc. As a result, the statistics below may differ from previous or future published reports.

Divisional Operational Communications Centre

(does not include calls for service by the public directly to local RCMP detachments)

Calls for service total 6102
Highest volume of calls for service was on March 4, 2023 1050
Reports of Impaired Drivers (RID calls) 38
Persons Offences (number of incidents, not victims)
Homicide 0
        Homicides year to date (January, 2022 to last day encompassed in this report) 4
Sexual assaults 27
Sexual crime – other (invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference) 11
Assaults
        Aggravated Assault 9
        Assault 185
        Assault with weapon or causing bodily harm 55
Robbery 5
Firearms (use of in the commission of an offence, discharge with intent, pointing a firearm) 9
Kidnapping/forcible confinement 2
Harassment/uttering threats 101
Other persons offences (domestic or family dispute, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, extortion with firearm, mischief – danger to life, etc.) 30
Property Offences
Break and Enter Total 98
Number of break and enters to a business 18
      Number of break and enters to a residence 55
      Number of other break and enters (encompasses sheds, storage containers, unattached garages, etc.) 24
Theft Total 206
        Other theft over $5,000 27
        Theft $5,000 or under 133
        Number of theft of motor vehicle 46
Mischief 520
        Number of mischief – damage to property 104
        Number of mischief – obstruct enjoyment of property (example: unwanted, intoxicated person at a residence) 415
Other Criminal Code Offences
Bail violations 150
Breach of probation 42
Failure to appear/comply 20
Disturbing the peace 164
Reports of intimate partner and family violence

  • Time period reported is quarterly.
  • Data represents number of victims, as there may be more than one victim on a specific investigative file. An individual victimized more than once in a timeframe would be counted more than once. Due to common relationships types in intimate and family violence categories, totals should not be combined.
  • Intimate partner refers to violence committed by spouses (legally married, separated, divorced and common-law), current and former dating partner, or someone with whom the victim was in another type of intimate relationship.
  • Family violence refers to violence committed by spouses (legally married, separated, divorced and common-law), parents (biological, step, adoptive and foster), children (biological, step, adopted and foster), siblings (biological, step, half, adopted and foster) and extended family members (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and in-laws).
 
October 2022
        Intimate partner violence 404
        Family violence 416
November 2022
        Intimate partner violence 320
        Family violence 323
December 2022
        Intimate partner violence 338
        Family violence 408
Total intimate partner violence October-December, 2022 1062
Total family violence October-December, 2022 1147
Traffic
Impaired-related offences 84
        Number of roadside suspensions 13
Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle 17
Speeding (this does not include automated speed enforcement fines issued) 1397
        Fines issued 907
        Warnings issued (education-focused
interaction between police and public
)
490
Collisions 144
Dangerous driving 9
Fatal collisions (number of road-going incidents, not victims) 0
Non-offence Codes (generally, instances where Criminal Codes or Provincial/Federal Statutes aren’t broken – for example abandoned vehicles, animal calls, school visits, property or wellbeing checks, etc.)
Assistance 285
False alarms 185
Breach of peace 105
911 Act – other activities 176
Suspicious person/vehicle/property 144
Mental health act (generally, police officers responding to reports of persons thinking about suicide, or people with mental illness and requiring assistance): 163
Non-suspicious sudden deaths/Coroner’s Act (Every non-suspicious sudden death police officers respond to including reports of persons who died by suicide, natural, accident or undetermined. Specific breakdowns by cause of death are unavailable.) 10