A 19 year-old male is facing charges after a stolen vehicle was recovered over the weekend.
On Friday, May 8, 2020, at approximately 9:40 p.m., police located a vehicle, believed to be stolen, travelling in the area of 4th Avenue and Rae Street. The vehicle drove away from a marked police vehicle at a high rate of speed into oncoming traffic. Members of the Regina Police Service Stolen Auto Unit continued surveillance of the vehicle until it stopped in the 900 block of Atkinson Street. The male driver of the vehicle fled on foot but was quickly arrested by police.
The vehicle was confirmed stolen, as was the license plate attached to the vehicle. In a search incident to arrest, police also located a key inside the vehicle. The key was confirmed to be an automobile master key. The Criminal Code defines a master key as “a key, pick, rocker key or other instrument designed or adapted to operate the ignition or other switches or locks of a series of motor vehicles.” In other words, a master key can be used to access, start, and potentially steal many different vehicles. As a result:
Nineteen year-old James Dennis WILCOX of Regina has been charged with:
- Theft of Motor Vehicle [CC 333.1 (1)];
- Possession of Automobile Master Key [CC 353 (1)(B)];
- 2 X Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Under $5000 [CC 355 (B)];
- Operate Conveyance Dangerous To Public [CC 320.13 (1)];
- 2 X Operation of a Conveyance While Prohibited [CC320.18 (1)(A)]; and
- Mischief Under $5000 [CC 430 (4)].
WILCOX made his first court appearance on these charges in Provincial Court on Monday, May 11, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.