Battlefords RCMP are investigating an attempted vehicle theft that occurred approximately five km east of North Battleford on Highway 40 at which witnesses to the attempt participated in foiling the plot.
A man and woman attempted to steal a vehicle from a work site shortly after noon on Friday, Dec. 8, but were interrupted by several witnesses.
The male suspect attempted to flee the scene in the vehicle but became stuck in the ditch trying to evade the witnesses on scene.
The female suspect also attempted to flee in a separate vehicle but also had to abandon that vehicle after it to became stuck in the snow. She is also alleged to have attempted to strike one of the witnesses on scene with the vehicle, but the witness was able to get out of the way unharmed.
The man was arrested by RCMP near the scene of the original call after he was held down by one of the witnesses on scene.
The woman fled through some yards and fields on foot but was also tracked down with the assistance of several witnesses and taken into custody.
The vehicle the suspects had travelled to the scene with was also found to have been stolen out of Alberta.
A 32-year-old Alberta man is being charged with theft of a vehicle, and two counts of possession of stolen property. A 37-year-old Alberta woman is being charged with theft of a vehicle, two counts of possession of stolen property and one count of dangerous driving.
Both were also arrested on warrants out of the Swift Current area in connection with several stolen vehicles from earlier this summer. Both accused have been remanded into custody and will appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on Monday, Dec. 11 at 9:30 a.m.
