By paNOW Staff

Second person sentenced for May crime spree near Prince Albert

Jun 27, 2011 | 12:05 PM

The second person behind a spring crime spree in the rural municipalities of Prince Albert and Buckland has been sentenced, but won't serve jail time.

Ivan Rabbitskin, 18, from the White Fish First Nation near Big River was sentenced, Monday, to a 14-month, conditional sentence and was ordered to pay $1,240 restitution.

Ivan and Kelly Rabbitskin, 20, were arrested back on May 4 inside a building behind R & W Custom Collision.

Buckland fire fighters were credited with catching the thieves, who earlier that morning had stolen two vehicles, vandalized four vehicles belonging to the volunteer fire department and broken into two buildings, including the one behind the auto body shop.

We got lucky, said Ward Howat, deputy fire chief for the Buckland Volunteer Fire Department.

Raiders win 5-3

Defensive scoring leads Raiders over Wheat Kings

55m ago

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

16h ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

22h ago

“We figured the people were still around because none of our vehicles were stolen so we just wanted to make sure they weren’t breaking into somewhere else. We just lucked out and caught them in this building,” Howat said.

“It is kind of nice that we did catch them, but it is kind of a shame also in the community that you can’t leave your vehicles out.”

He said these types of crimes do happen in the community, but outcomes like this serve as reminder to would be thieves that there are people out there watching.

Rabbitskin had six months of probation tacked on to the end of his sentence to ensure he completes the restitution payments.

It will help with our insurance deductibles and those types of costs, said Howat.

“I guess if we can recoup that, it all helps in the long run.”

See related: Firefighters turned crime fighters

news@panow.com