A local businessman says he’s “sick and tired” of recent thefts in the area – especially after his vehicle was rammed by a thief caught in the act on Monday.
“It’s getting brazen,” an annoyed Darryl Leachman told the Advertiser the morning after someone stole a side-by-side ATV from Aberfoyle Snomobiles, where he works as general manager.
There would have been two vehicles taken were it not for a neighbour warning Leachman and his father Glenn, who owns the business, of a theft in progress on Aug. 22 at about 3am.
Glenn arrived at the Brock Road business to see two pickup trucks – one a white Chevy or GM crew cab heavy duty (2007 to 2013 model) that already had a side-by-side ATV loaded onto it and a red Chevy or GM preparing to load a similar ATV in a ditch in front of the business.
The two trucks sped off when the thieves realized they were caught, explained Leachman, who intercepted the suspect trucks in his own vehicle heading south on Brock Road.
The red truck exited onto the eastbound Highway 401 and the white one continued south along Brock Road (Highway 6). He pursued the latter vehicle in an attempt to get a plate number, but his efforts were derailed before too long.
At a car pool lot south of the 401 the suspect vehicle quickly braked and unsuccessfully tried to perform a U-turn.
“The guy rammed my truck [almost head-on],” Leachman said. The suspect then tried to back up, again striking Leachman’s truck.
Undaunted, Leachman continued to follow the suspect vehicle north on Highway 6, but gave up when the truck made its way onto the westbound 401 and sped away at what he estimated was 180km/h.
The thieves also damaged a fence to get on the property and broke a ramp loading one of the ATVs.
He and his father spent the better part of the next day talking to police and working out details with their insurance company – a process with which Leachman has unfortunately become familiar.
“It’s not the first time we’ve been hit,” he told the Advertiser, noting his business had two ATVs stolen this spring, in addition to many other incidents over the years.
“I’m getting sick and tired of it,” Leachman said.
So too are others in the area. In fact, just last weekend, one night prior to the theft at Aberfoyle Snomobiles, a neighbour had a vehicle stolen and another neighbour had two vehicles “riffled through,” said Leachman.
The stolen ATV is described as a black (with green accents) 2016 Arctic Cat Wild Cat Sport Limited worth up to $25,000.
Anyone with information about the thefts can contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
