A sharp-eyed off-duty RCMP officer spotted suspicious behaviour that led police to a pair of alleged thieves in Blackfalds.
RCMP said the off-duty Mountie saw a woman going into vehicles along the town’s Chinook Street about 2:25 a.m. on Thursday. The officer called it in and while waiting for his on-duty colleagues approached a suspect in a vehicle and asked what she was doing.
The woman then fled in a 2013 Dodge Avenger, which police later determined had been stolen from a local residence earlier in the evening..
About 2:50 a.m., police stopped the Avenger being driven by a 21-year-old man, who had an 18-year-old woman passenger.
The man had outstanding arrest warrants and will be charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of a controlled substances and two breaches of probation. The woman will be charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of a controlled substance, mischief and failing to comply with release conditions.
Blackfalds RCMP are warning people to lock their vehicles to avoid thefts.
The Avenger was returned to its owner and no other items were stolen.