KRyn
04-20-2012, 10:21 AM
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Calgary+thief+stealing+tailgates+quickly/6487973/story.html
CALGARY — Forget about gone in 60 seconds, one truck thief has pulled off heists in under half a minute.
Although the crook wasn’t after the whole vehicle — just the tailgate.
Police launched an investigation after more than two dozen tailgate thefts were reported in the past three months, mostly in northeast Calgary.
Acting Staff Sgt. Gord Nyhus said tailgates can be popped off in 15 to 30 seconds and retail up to $4,500.
“They’re easy to get and people want them,” Nyhus said.
Earlier this week, a tip led investigators to a house in the 8000 block of Huntington Road N.E.
Sixteen tailgates were found when the house was raided on Wednesday.
Police were told the suspect had stolen 21 tailgates and sold five.
Nyhus said the tailgates sold for about $500 and the alleged thief had placed an ad on Kijiji.
Police described the offender as a middle-aged man, married, with a full-time job working north of Calgary.
The thief was “doing this to add to his family’s income,” Nyhus said.
David Smith, 41, of Calgary, has been charged with one count each of theft under $5,000 and possession of marijuana.
On Thursday, stolen tailgates of all colours were displayed at a northeast police warehouse. Most were domestic makes such as Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford.
The investigation is ongoing and police are trying to find the property owners.
Police also warned people to lock their vehicles.
Many trucks come with a built-in tailgate lock, said Rob Refvick, manager at The Truck Outfitters.
Aftermarket locks are available, Refvick added, but that’s only the first step.
“So many people have these locks and don’t use them,” he said. “It does you no good.”
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Calgary+thief+stealing+tailgates+quickly/6487973/story.html#ixzz1sb9veZDX
CALGARY — Forget about gone in 60 seconds, one truck thief has pulled off heists in under half a minute.
Although the crook wasn’t after the whole vehicle — just the tailgate.
Police launched an investigation after more than two dozen tailgate thefts were reported in the past three months, mostly in northeast Calgary.
Acting Staff Sgt. Gord Nyhus said tailgates can be popped off in 15 to 30 seconds and retail up to $4,500.
“They’re easy to get and people want them,” Nyhus said.
Earlier this week, a tip led investigators to a house in the 8000 block of Huntington Road N.E.
Sixteen tailgates were found when the house was raided on Wednesday.
Police were told the suspect had stolen 21 tailgates and sold five.
Nyhus said the tailgates sold for about $500 and the alleged thief had placed an ad on Kijiji.
Police described the offender as a middle-aged man, married, with a full-time job working north of Calgary.
The thief was “doing this to add to his family’s income,” Nyhus said.
David Smith, 41, of Calgary, has been charged with one count each of theft under $5,000 and possession of marijuana.
On Thursday, stolen tailgates of all colours were displayed at a northeast police warehouse. Most were domestic makes such as Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford.
The investigation is ongoing and police are trying to find the property owners.
Police also warned people to lock their vehicles.
Many trucks come with a built-in tailgate lock, said Rob Refvick, manager at The Truck Outfitters.
Aftermarket locks are available, Refvick added, but that’s only the first step.
“So many people have these locks and don’t use them,” he said. “It does you no good.”
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Calgary+thief+stealing+tailgates+quickly/6487973/story.html#ixzz1sb9veZDX