Abduction pranks ill-advised: RCMP

The Island View Home apartment complex in Lac La Biche in June 2025. (Google Street View)

Mounties have confirmed that what they suspected may have been a potential kidnapping in northern Alberta was actually a passenger pretending to be abducted.

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Lac La Biche RCMP were investigating calls on Thursday about a suspicious vehicle at 103 Street and 104 Avenue that at the time they believed could have been involved in a kidnapping.

After asking for the public’s assistance with information, they received calls from the driver of the car and the potential victim who informed officers that there was no abduction – the passenger was pretending to be abducted by the driver.

“RCMP reminds the public that these kinds of practical jokes can cause panic in the public or even lower the chance of people calling the incident in, believing it is just another prank,” read a release on Thursday.