Suspecting the $50,000 Corvette stolen straight from the showroom floor was never coming back, Ken Huber received a surprising call on Monday.
“They found it, in Surrey,” he said. “I’m not sure what kind of condition it was left in or anything yet though.”
Sgt. Rick Dellebuur confirmed RCMP found the vehicle on Saturday morning in a residential area of Surrey. He said no arrests have been made.
Like something straight out of a video game or movie, the obviously brazen thieves smashed through the Huber Bannister dealership showroom windows in a special edition Corvette around 11:26 p.m. last Thursday.
Huber suspected professionals drove away with the 2011 Special Heritage Edition Grand Sport Corvette and it was long gone to a chop shop or container headed somewhere else.
“I have been here for almost 20 years and it is the first time I have seen anything like this happen. I get the phone call from one of the other staff members who was with the police that night and I was pretty shocked when they told me a car was stolen right out of the showroom,” said Huber.
Shortly after Penticton RCMP officers arrived on scene to investigate on Thursday evening, the Corvette sped past them on Eckhardt Avenue toward Highway 97.
An RCMP officer in a marked police vehicle followed the Corvette a short distance as it left Penticton and confirmed its direction of travel as northbound on Hwy 97.
Given the rate of speed and manner in which the vehicle was being driven, RCMP officers did not initiate a pursuit of the suspect and vehicle.
Details and a description of the car were relayed to the Summerland RCMP. The Corvette was then seen and clocked on radar travelling at 220 kilometres per hour in the Trout Creek area on Hwy 97.
RCMP detachments to the north, including West Kelowna, were also advised and they set up a roadblock near the connector area.
However, the vehicle was not observed and believed to have turned off the highway prior to that location.
RCMP continue to investigate the theft and are asking that anyone with information regarding the break in and theft contact RCMP at 250-492-4300 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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Posted October 26, 2013
Like something straight out of a video game or movie, obviously brazen thieves smashed through a Penticton car dealership showroom in a special edition Corvette.
Despite news quickly travelling through traditional and social media sites, the general manager at Huber Bannister suspects the silver 2011 Special Heritage Edition Gran Sport Corvette is long gone.
"No one has seen the car as of right now. It's speculation but I think it could be professionals that did this," said Ken Huber, general manager and part owner. "I couldn't tell you if it is in a chop shop or a container headed somewhere else, who knows."
Thieves broke into the car dealership and smashed through the glass windows with the vehicle around 11:26 p.m. driving away in the special edition Corvette that has a price tag of $49,900. Huber said brand new the vehicle was listed at $101,100 when it was first rolled out. It sports a 436 horsepower motor, body-styling add ons and upgraded interior finishes.
"I have been here for almost 20 years and it is the first time I have seen anything like this happen. I get the phone call from one of the other staff members who was with the police that night and I was pretty shocked when they told me a car was stolen right out of the showroom," said Huber.
The RCMP said officers arrived on scene and found the showroom glass door smashed open and an employee confirmed the Corvette was missing. As Mounties examined the scene, the vehicle sped past on Eckhardt Avenue toward Highway 97. An RCMP officer in a marked police vehicle followed the Corvette a short distance as it left Penticton and confirmed it’s direction of travel as northbound on Hwy 97.
Given the rate of speed and manner in which the vehicle was being driven, RCMP officers did not initiate a pursuit of the suspect(s) and vehicle. Details and description of the car were relayed to the Summerland RCMP. The Corvette was then seen and clocked on radar travelling at 220 kilometres per hour in the Trout Creek Summerland area on Hwy 97.
RCMP detachments to the north, including West Kelowna, were also advised and they set up a roadblock near the connector area. However, the vehicle was not observed and believed to have turned off the highway prior to that location.
The Penticton RCMP are continuing their investigation into the break-in and are asking that anyone with information regarding the break in and theft contact RCMP at 250-492-4300 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.