YOUR Independent Community Newspaper THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015
Vol. 3 Edition 39
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Truck thefts plague ’Burg
Vehicles found gutted just west of London
that morning but couldn’t locate Laprise’s vehicle until Monday of this John Laprise remembers week when it was recovthe night well. He was at ered near London. “I drove down to Lamhome sleeping at about beth at an 1 a.m. September 26 “It wasn’t five seconds i m p o u n d lot to get when we before I jumped out my personwas awakal belongened by of bed and got to the ings but three loud driveway. I saw my bangs and truck heading down the there was then the street and another one nothing left. Not even distinctive the dental sound of his following it.” floss.” customized - Theft victim John Laprise Although 2004 Chevthe truck is a decade old, rolet quad cab starting. “It wasn’t five seconds Laprise said it was his before I jumped out of pride and joy. “I’ve owned it for eight bed and got to the driveway. I saw my truck head- years and I’ve spent a lot ing down the street and of time and money on it. another one following it.” It doesn’t have a spot of It’s an all too common rust on it.” The truck has served the occurrence in Wallaceburg as 13 trucks have family well as it’s taken been reported stolen since his wife and children to their minor sports games August. After calling 9-1-1 and over the years. “I had DVD players put having police respond Laprise was told the trucks in the head rests to keep had been seen heading to- the kids occupied when we’re driving, I had speward Walpole Island. “I drove out to Walpole cial rims and exhaust a while later and saw six installed, painted it and cruisers at the bottom of even had it lowered and the bridge.” he said. “I raised. It was my baby.” Laprise, like many others parked in the plaza and sat there for a few min- who’ve had their trucks utes listening to them stolen, believes its part of an organized operation. chasing my truck.” “They know exactly Police found the second truck on the Island at 2:30 what they’re doing, even By Jim Blake jim@chathamvoice.com
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John Laprise’s “baby,” his tricked out 2004 Chevy pickup, sits stripped near London. Laprise heard his truck roar away from his Wallaceburg home last month, tracked it to Walpole Island where it vanished, and learned it was found near Lambeth.
down to the models they want.” He said the thieves are punching out locks or breaking windows, popping the black ring ignition system that was used on certain vehicles from 1999 to 2007 and then using a screwdriver to start them. From speaking to others
End Lot Blowout!
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who’ve been victimized, he said a pattern is emerging in which thieves steal a “plain” truck or other vehicle, use it to cruise the community until they see a more desirable one, steal that and abandon the first. “They’ve found a lot of them near London, so many in fact that they
gave me the wrong towing company and I had to call back and get the right information. There were other trucks from Wallaceburg at the lot.” Laprise said he has no doubt thieves are scouting the community. “They just don’t show up in town and guess. They know what they
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want and they’re good at taking it.” Dale Zimoch-Powers had his GMC truck stolen from his father’s driveway on University Ave. October 5. “I had the day off so it wasn’t until about 11 that I noticed it was gone,” he said.
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