A family attending a dressage show in Maple Ridge had its truck stolen from the Pitt Meadows hotel lot Wednesday evening, and it was later seen on video being used during an attempted robbery.
It was one of two trucks stolen in Pitt Meadows on the weekend.
Debbi Vanderydt and her eight-year-old daughter were in town from Westwold, 45 minutes outside of Kamloops, for the Canadian Cup Dressage Festival at the Maple Ridge Equi-Sports Centre.
The pair had pulled into the Best Western Hotel Plus, at Lougheed Highway and Harris Road, just before 11 p.m. on July 25 and only noticed the truck was stolen the next morning at around 7:30 a.m. on their way to the barn to move their horses to the show.
“My daughter is only eight years old and this is her first horse show, so it’s kind of put a bit of a damper on it for her,” said Vanderydt.
“Luckily, the people at the horse show rallied for us. Two wonderful people picked up our horses and our trailer and brought us to the show,” Vanderydt added.
At around 3 a.m. on July 26, her truck was seen on security video footage being used in an alleged robbery attempt in the South Bonson area.
“Somebody posted a message on Facebook with a video they had taken still shots from their security footage, asking if anybody knew this truck because they tried to steal their boat and jet skis,” said Vanderydt.
Since then, there have been no further sightings of Vanderydt’s truck that she knows of.
The red 1999 Ford F350 SuperCrew long-box pickup has a gold canopy over the back and Vanderydt’s company logos on the rear-side windows and back window of the canopy. The logo is of two white horses facing each other with LBS Ventures written below. The plate number is PB685M.
“It’s a diesel, as well, so it’s loud,” said Vanderydt.
“Nobody else in the world would have those decals on their truck and they are clearly visible in the security footage,” she added.
Items inside the truck included riding clothes and footwear, an iPad, cell phone, her daughter’s booster seat, three lawn chairs and a sun tent.
Vanderydt had to rent a car so her daughter could remain in the competition. Her husband has borrowed a truck to pick them up and take them home at the end of the horse show Sunday.
A second pick up truck was stolen at Grant Narrow Park on Sunday.
Laurie and Joey Baranec launched their boat and parked their Ford F250 at about 9:30 a.m. just outside the parking lot gates at the side of the road.
The Port Coquitlam couple went to Raven Creek, where they hung out for the day and got back to the boat launch at around 9:30 p.m., just as it was getting dark.
Laurie stayed with the boat while Joey went for the truck. When he discovered it missing, he borrowed a phone to call his wife.
The pickup is tan in colour with a light-tan canopy, plate number 379 2VJ. Attached to it was a black, powder-coated shoreline trailer with a custom paint job that says Searay on it, plate number UCK 17E.
The pair contacted their son to pick them up, and Joey decided to stay with the boat because they no way to haul it home.
“What a way to wreck a good day,” said Laurie.
The couple lost all of their camping gear, a new portable garage and tools that were left in the vehicle.
They were able to borrow a trailer from a family friend and have since parked the boat in their yard.
Ridge Meadows RCMP Insp. Aaron Paradis has confirmed police are investigating the theft of two older model pickup trucks in Pitt Meadows.
“Older model vehicles are targeted because they typically do not have electronic anti-theft devices, such as engine immobilizers or coded key fobs. Police always suggest it is a good idea to invest in a club steering wheel lock or after-market engine immobilizer devices,” Paradis said.
• Anyone who spots either truck is asked to contact the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251.