Would-be thief collared

Photo: Contributed - Google Satellite

A bumbling thief was collared by RCMP after unsuccessfully trying to steal a trailer from a parking lot at Silver Star Mountain Resort.

About 6:30 p.m. Thursday, a police service dog unit was called to the E parking lot at Silver Star, on a report of a possible theft in progress. 

The suspects left after trying multiple times to hook up the trailer without success.

But a description of the white Ford F-350 was given to police by witnesses.

The Alberta-plated truck was located down an embankment on the 7800 block of Silver Star Road. No one was in the vehicle. 

The dog team followed a track and located a male suspect, who started hitting the animal. The dog handler had to intervene to prevent injury to the dog, and the suspect was subdued and handcuffed. The dog was not hurt.

A 46-year-old Alberta resident suffered a dog bite and small laceration to his head as a result. He was checked out at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and returned to the police office after minor treatment. 

A check of the trailer found there were two snowmobiles inside.

The suspect was later discovered to have provided a false name. It turns out he has numerous arrest warrants in Alberta. He has been remanded in custody.