Hitchhikers steal car

Photo: Castanet Staff

A series of car thefts in the Grand Forks area appear to be heading to the Osoyoos area.

The Grand Forks Gazette is reporting three RCMP detachments have been investigating the crime spree impacting multiple vehicles.

“At approximately 6:30 a.m. this morning members from Grand Forks RCMP responded to a report of a vehicle collision in the Christina Lake area. When they got there they found the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Cranbrook, and there was no one [at the scene],” Cpl. Philip Crack told the Gazette.

Later that morning, officers were called to the Petro Canada in Rock Creek where a man had his car stolen by hitchhikers while he paid for gas. The man had picked up the group of people from the collision scene.

While there is no danger to the public at this time, the Osoyoos RCMP is asking people in the area to be cautious and avoid picking up hitchhikers, especially at accident scenes.

Castanet has placed several calls to the impacted RCMP detachments and the Southeast District. More information is expected to be released tonight or early Thursday morning.