By David F. Rooney
It’s that time of year — winter when thousands of snowmobilers migrate to Revelstoke to roam the mountains and ploy through the powder.
It’s also the time of year when skilled thieves prowl hotel parking lots and steal sleds, trailers and trucks.
It’s barely mid-December and RCMP Cpl. Thomas Blakney says there have already been three thefts this season, the latest of which occurred last Friday at about 2:30 am at the Peaks Lodge off the Trans-Canada Highway.
These thieves made off with a white Ford 350 with two snowmobiles. One was a 2013 Polaris 800 RMK. The other was an Arctic Cat M8.
Blakney said Revelstoke RCMP are encouraging sledders to park their vehicles in a well-lit area, disable their tow vehicles at night and securely lock all of their equipment and sleds.
More than a few people believe that Revelstoke is the snowmobile-theft capital of British Columbia.
Blakney said 16 snowmobile thefts were reported to the Revelstoke detachment in 2010, 11 in 2011, 18 in 2012 and 16 so far this year (that includes thefts reported in the spring).
Contrary to popular belief the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) does not track snowmobile thefts.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have statistics involving snowmobiles as many people do not insure their snowmobile or they purchase private insurance (so we also wouldn’t have any claims information),” ICBC regional media contact Michelle Hargrave told The Current on Tuesday.
