Thieves take advantage of Summer Rush

Crime - While Jessica Stokes and her boyfriend were enjoying the Summer Rush concert at Alderney Gate on July 19, a thief broke into her vehicle at the Queen Street parking lot and robbed the couple of more than $4,000 of personal property.

And last Halloween night, when Stokes' car was parked in Cole Harbour, a vandal tossed a firecracker in through the sunroof and caused thousands of dollars of damage to the interior of her 2007 Hyundai Tiburon.

Although not a high-end sports car, it's ice blue colour and 18-inch rims seem to attract attention from thieves and vandals - as well as frequent police spot checks.

The day of the concert was a busy one for the couple and they did not take the time to return home to remove their belongings from the car, as they usually would before going out for the evening.

"I don't have any luck with my car in Dartmouth," said Stokes, a Halifax resident.

They arrived at the parking lot, stowed their valuables in the trunk of the car and set the car alarm in the vain hope that the alarm would be sufficient protection. They arrived back home after the concert, opened the trunk and were astonished to find it empty.

Stokes believes the thief used a tool to open the car door, then disabled the alarm, cleaned out the trunk and reset the alarm. She thinks the thief may have watched her place the personal items, including newly-purchased cellphones, iPod, sports bag and clothing, into the trunk before she walked down to the concert.

Stokes reported the incident to police that evening.

Police spokeswoman, Theresa Rath, said no other theft from motor vehicle complaints were made that night, but police did receive two reports of wallet thefts in the concert area.

They also charged a few concertgoers with the usual gamut of liquor offences, assaults on police officers and lewd behaviour or flashing.

Rath encourages any other victims of car break-ins in the concert area on July 19 to contact police so they can determine whether there was a rash of criminal activity that night and proceed with an investigation on that basis.

Youth charged after car chase and crash in Crichton Park

Police in Dartmouth arrested two youth, aged 15 and 17, after a stolen van crashed into a power pole at the intersection of Crichton Avenue and Hawthorne Street.

While responding to an unrelated false hold-up alarm, officers noticed a van leaving a Dartmouth business in a hurry in the early afternoon of July 24. They pursued the vehicle on Ochterloney Street, but dropped back for safety reasons when the van picked up speed.

Moments later, the van crashed, breaking the power pole into two pieces. Three people ran from the heavily damaged vehicle.

A short time later, in the early morning hours of July 25, the police picked up and charged the two youths and they are scheduled to appear in court Aug. 28. The third suspect has not yet been found.

Drug raids

The HRM Police Drug Unit had a productive evening on July 30, turning up quantities of illegal drugs at two residences on Rosedale and Pinecrest drives. Police seized ecstasy, marijuana and Oxycontin in the raids and charged two men with trafficking and possession-related offences.

Tavern patron robbed at gunpoint

A patron of the Woodside Tavern was robbed of a small amount of money at gunpoint, following a brawl outside the bar on July 22. An argument started inside, spilled out into the parking lot, and became a physical fight.

One person was knocked to the ground and another suffered a bloody nose. One of the assailants threatened a third patron with a handgun and took a small amount of cash from him, before both assailants fled on foot. After police were called, the K-9 unit pursued the suspects without success.

Police continued their search, however, and tracked the pair down on July 31 at Esdaile Avenue.

Adam Crocker, 22, was charged with robbery and assault and was scheduled to appear in court Aug. 1. Stephen Meekins, 26, was charged with robbery, assault, three counts of breach of recognizance, and other weapons-related offences and was to appear in court during the week of Aug. 4.

Stabbing in Highfield Park

Police are still investigating a stabbing that took place in the early hours of July 27 in front of the Needs Store on Highfield Park Drive. Two men approached a third man and one began to hit the victim.

After the two assailants fled the scene, the victim discovered he had been stabbed in the side and was taken to hospital with minor injuries. He was able to give police a description of his attacker who has not yet been found.

pat.millar@ns.sympatico.ca