A thief fired a rifle into the trees as a distraction when three men were caught stealing fuel at a rural property outside Red Deer on Thursday.
RCMP said a property owner near Range Road 253 and Township Road 372, about 22 km southeast of Red Deer, discovered the thieves trying to steal fuel about 9:30 p.m.
After a shot was fired from a small-calibre rifle, the three men got into a four-door white Dodge truck and sped off.
Blackfalds RCMP patrolled the area but could not locate the truck. The three suspects are Caucasian.
Police continue to investigate. If you have any information that could assist the police, contact the Blackfalds RCMP at 403-885-3300. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com. If the information leads to an arrest, tipsters are eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.