On January 4, 2022, at approximately 8:40 a.m., Winnipeg Police North District General Patrol Units responded to a Wellbeing call in the 600 block of Sheppard Street. The caller advised that a vehicle (Chevrolet Trax) was parked next to where their vehicle had just been stolen and that a female was passed out in the Trax. While on the call to police, the caller said a male entered the Trax, and the vehicle left. The first stolen vehicle was identified as a Dodge Caravan.
At approximately 9:25 a.m., a marked General Patrol unit located both stolen vehicles behind a hotel in the 1000 block of McPhillips Street. A WPS marked cruiser car blocked the van's front, and an officer approached the driver and attempted to arrest him. At this time, the van's driver accelerated the van in reverse, rocking the vehicle to throw off the officer who could not get free. The officer was dragged approximately 6 metres before falling to the roadway. The officer was not seriously injured. The driver of the Chey Trax remained in the vehicle behind the hotel, and officers were forced to break the vehicle's window to arrest her.
The van fled across McPhillips, crossing multiple lanes of traffic. At approximately 9:40 a.m., the van was reported to have crashed at the intersection of McGregor Street and Inkster Boulevard, and witnesses say a male fleed the area. Officers located the suspect in the yard of a home a short distance away. The suspect had sustained some injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to hospital for medical treatment. Once released from hospital, the 30-year-old male will face charges of:
- Assault Peace Officer with Weapon
- Flight While Pursued by Peace Officer
- Fail to Comply with Condition of Undertaking
- Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance
- Possess Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
The 31-year-old female from the Chevy Trax faces one charge of:
- Possess Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
The investigation has determined that both vehicles were stolen while running and the keys left inside. The Winnipeg Police Service reminds everyone to avoid leaving running vehicles unattended.
Cold Weather Auto Theft Prevention:
Unfortunately, an extreme cold weather cycle is back.
People often leave their vehicles running and unattended in frigid temperatures to warm up.
The Winnipeg Police Service would like to remind the public that vehicles left running and unattended are quick and easy targets to be stolen.
This past January, there were 175 stolen vehicles reported stolen to the WPS.
Seventy-one of these vehicles were left running with the keys left inside.
Twenty-nine of these vehicles had the keys left somewhere inside the vehicle.
Auto theft prevention tips include:
- NEVER LEAVE A VEHICLE RUNNING AND UNATTENDED
- Consider installing a remote starter
- Stay with your running vehicle
- Never leave children or pets in an unattended vehicle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKVAjmoYxvU
Continue to be vigilant during the cold weather, but if you have to report a stolen vehicle, call the Winnipeg Police Service Non-Emergency line: 204-986-6222.