Photo courtesy of the Alberta RCMP.
The Alberta RCMP, in partnership with community and industry partners has been participating in an initiative to help address concerns around copper wire theft in the province since October.
To reduce the amount of thefts the Alberta RCMP’s Eastern and Central District’s Crime Reduction Units, along with K Division Criminal Analysis section, and Community Safety and Wellbeing Branch worked with industry partners to determine areas that are being targeted and develop strategies to investigate, identify and arrest the individuals who were causing the most harm related to the theft of precious metals.
As part of the initiative, the Alberta RCMP utilized a variety of techniques, including the use of a High Altitude Surveillance Plane (HASP), plain clothes investigation units, and the use of bait equipment.
The HASP responded to 20 different calls to service most of which resulted in arrests.
The initiative resulted in numerous criminal code charges being laid relating to rural oil and gas lease site break and enters including:
- Peter Walker, 39, and Douglas MacQuarrie,48,: charged with breaking and entering, and mischief under $5000 – while damages and loss were initially under $5000, further investigation revealed the costs to be near $100,000 in the Olds area.
- Braiden Thorson,29,: charged with breaking and entering, flight from a peace officer, possession of stolen property over $5,000, driving while disqualified in the Rimbey area.
- Brody Kaus,34,: charged with breaking and entering, mischief over $5,000, theft over $5000, possession of stolen property over $5000, possession of break-in instruments, flight from a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and fraudulent concealment in the Rimbey area.
- Lyle MacLachlan,60,: charged with breaking and entering, mischief under $5000, and possession of break in tools Red Deer County area.
- Dylan Goodman,36,: charged with breaking and entering, mischief under $5000, and possession of break in tools in the Red Deer County area.
- Johnathan Staudt,36,: charged with fraudulent concealment, possession of stolen property over $5000, Possession methamphetamine, Possess break-in instruments in the Killam Forestburg area.
- Kenneth Staudt,35,: charged with breaking and entering, mischief over $5000, theft over $5000, possession of stolen property over $5000, Possess break-in instruments in the Killam Forestburg area.
Photo courtesy of the Alberta RCMP.
The RCMP encourages Albertans to laser engrave metal, secure their property with fences and cameras, question suspicious sellers, and report all suspicious activities.
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