RCMP action in June

Photo: Castanet Staff

A busy month for Lumby RCMP.

The past month has been a busy one for the RCMP here in Lumby.

In May Cst. Kevin Boeglin was transferred to Surrey detachment. Cst. Boeglin worked in Lumby for over three years.

The evening of June 23rd we executed two search warrants for drugs in the 2000 block of Mountainview Ave in Lumby. 

One of the homes was the subject of a previous drug search in 2011. The entire basement was again devoted to growing marijuana and some 250 mature plants were seized. 

The male and female residing in the house were arrested and face charges. They were also stealing water from the Village of Lumby contrary to the by-law. 

Police also involved the Ministry of Children and Family Development because a child was  living in the house. 

Some 28 marijuana plants were seized in the second residence.  Both homes have been posted under the bylaw as uninhabitable and will need to be brought back up to the building code prior to being re-occupied. 

The evening of June 14th a witness reported a black pickup go off the road, over a cliff and into the Shuswap river just east of the Shuswap River Bridge. Unfortunately, the river is a peak flow at this time of year and it was deemed far too dangerous for Vernon Search and Rescue or the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team to attempt a recovery operation. 

This has unfortunately caused some concern with friends and relatives of the deceased male. The situation is being monitored closely and attempts will be made to recover the body and vehicle once river level decrease to what is considered a safe level.

There has also been a number of ATV's stolen in the area. 

The latest was on June 8 when two new Polaris ' Razors' were stolen out of garage on Birch Road in Lumby. 

These thefts are organized and well planned. Police believe a team of thieves are involved. 

They appear to 'case' the homes carefully during the day and commit the thefts (usually at night) shortly thereafter. 

RCMP said owners of ATV's should be especially vigilant and ensure their machines are out of sight and securely locked. This information is the same for owners in both rural and urban areas of Lumby.

On June 18 police arrested Steven Drage, 48, of Cherryville in our local Gilbert Parts Depot as he was caught obtaining parts and tools from that retail outlet. Drage has been charged with two counts under the Criminal Code one for theft over $5000.00 and one for Possession of Stolen Property. He has been held in custody. He is very well known to police. 

Drage is believed to have been working with two associates and likely cost the business thousands of dollars. 

A fraction of the parts and tools have been recovered by police and will be returned to Gilbert's once the court proceeding are complete.