A Bragg Creek gas station attendant said he still can’t believe thieves who stole more than $100 in diesel – then led police on a high speed chase into Calgary – thought to buy fuel additive before driving away.
“Who puts a fuel additive in a stolen vehicle?” said Shell employee Miguel DaPonte with a laugh.
The gas and dash from the Bragg Creek Shell was the first in a wild series of events on July 19 that weaved through rural highways and farmers’ fields – engaging six different police jurisdictions – and finally ended when two people were arrested at CrossIron Mills mall in Balzac.
DaPonte said it was around noon when a black truck pulled in to his place of work and a man wearing leather gloves came in and purchased a fuel additive – a product advertised to optimize a vehicle’s performance.
The customer then stole about $100 worth of fuel. DaPonte said his colleagues decided to call Cochrane RCMP, adding officers were aware of a stolen black Ford F-350.
“They asked, ‘What happened?’ We mentioned that he had gotten the fuel additive … They kind of laughed,” said DaPonte about investigators’ reaction.
“(Maybe the thief was) thinking it would make them go faster.”
Turner Valley RCMP officers were next to receive a call from a farmer in Priddis after he spotted a black Ford F-350 chasing cattle on his land, and Tsuut’ina First Nation police then tried to stop the vehicle, but weren’t able to.
Though DaPonte didn’t see a second person at the Bragg Creek gas station, a woman was also with the man, and the pair drove into a Calgary dealership and stole a second truck as it was being offloaded from a semi. A HAWCS helicopter and Calgary police picked up the chase from there and alerted Strathmore and Airdrie RCMP for help.
The male suspect then smashed into a squad car with his truck and hopped into the second stolen truck before fleeing to the CrossIron Mills outlet mall, where officers were finally able to stop and arrest the pair inside.
Kacy Savoie, 30, and Shaylene Mccauley, 18, of Calgary were charged with a number of offenses, including possession of stolen property, flight from police, assaulting a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to remain at a scene of a collision. They are in custody and will appear in court next on July 31.
DaPonte said he’s thankful he and his colleagues were able to help, partly thanks to the suspect’s behaviour.
“He drew attention to himself in a town that only has two exits.”
