A Mountie on Highway 16 was flagged down by a parked motorist as the police officer travelled past the Sugarbowl Recreation Area.
The popular backcountry area is about 90 kilometres east of Prince George. Enthusiasts in all seasons come to enjoy hikes into the adjacent mountains of the Sugarbowl, Grizzly Den, Raven Lake, Viking Ridge, Ancient Forest and Upper Fraser Grand Canyon. All are in the same general area situated between Purden Lake Provincial Park and Slim Creek Provincial Park.
"The motorist had returned to his vehicle to find the driver-side front window smashed," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass. "Further checks of the immediate area and the Hungary Creek Forest Service Road found an additional four vehicles with smashed windows. Items were taken from the vehicles."
Although thievery is uncommon in that area, due to its long distance to either Prince George or McBride - the two largest flanking communities - this thief had a reduced risk of being caught as there is little traffic in that area and the vehicles of outdoors enthusiasts are usually parked for extended periods of time with little supervision.
"Thieves are everywhere," Douglass reminded the public. Police said the only safeguard in those situations is to leave as little as possible in vehicles parked in these conditions, lock up any valuables inside, and shield it as much as possible from view.
