Slow response to 911 call results in Springbank home robbery
A British Columbia vacation was abruptly halted for Dallas and Mark Rhodenizer. They were in the middle of a two week holiday when they received a text message from their Springbank neighbour saying their garage door was open.
"So we went on (to view our security video system) and we watched two people break into our house and clean out boxes over and over again so we got on the phone with 911," said Dallas.
But calling from B.C. about an Alberta emergency proved to be a challenge for the couple. The 911 dispatcher had a hard time figuring out where Springbank was and who to forward the emergency call to. That resulted in about a seven minute delay of notifying the RCMP of the break and enter.
"We were passed around and then put on hold," said Mark. "I think that time lapse is what cost us our stuff because the RCMP or police could've been here much faster if the response time was quicker (by dispatch)."
RETURN VISIT
Shaken from the ordeal, Mark woke early the next morning and checked the home security feed on his smart phone only to see the thieves had returned. The same people in the same truck taking more items from the home. The couple quickly called 911 again.
"I said they are there right now," said Dallas. "RCMP got here five minute after they left our house so they cleaned out all of our lawn equipment, they cleaned out all of our snowmobile equipment, yah they did a number that time too."
The two couldn't get home from B.C. immediately because the highways were closed so they had to wait until July 29th to return and survey the damage. They took a longer look at the surveillance footage and were surprised at what they saw.
"It was scary because it look like one of the individuals first walked around the property with a rifle," said Mark. "Now if my family was home and this is happening and they gained entry then what happens, do they take lives or is it just for a scare tactic?don't know and I don't want to know."
Now the couple are taking stock of what's missing and dealing with insurance. Their security company is back at the house finishing up installation of more cameras on the property.
The couple say their home renovation brought many contractors to the property and it was likely hard for the neighbours to know who was supposed to be there and who wasn't.
Much of what was taken is replaceable, but not everything.
"They stole my grandmother's ring my grandfather had given her that I wore my wedding day," said Dallas. "They stole my laptop which had my first born, all of his new born pictures which of course I haven't backed up so that to me just really really hits me right in the heart."
The couple is using social media to spread the word of their theft and looking for goods stolen from their home on various buy/sell sites.
If you have any information about the theft you're asked to contact Crime Stoppers. https://calgarycrimestoppers.org/
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.