Neighbour’s tip leads to recovery of stolen goods

An Edmonton woman is counting herself lucky after a neighbour’s call to police to report a break and enter led to the recovery of her stolen wedding ring.

“(They are) things you really couldn’t replace,” said Amy Hiscock Friday, speaking at a news conference where police displayed the ring among several other recovered items. “I immediately thought I would never get anything back because there are so many break and enters in the city.”

Edmonton Police Service (EPS) credited Hiscock’s neighbour for quick thinking after she reported a break and enter Wednesday morning and took photos of a suspicious vehicle.

The lead resulted in the recovery of jewelry, a laptop, custom knives and a necklace Hiscock’s grandmother had given her before her death.

Hiscock’s neighbour was prompted to call police when she heard a loud noise and noticed a suspicious vehicle near 19 Avenue and 33 Street, said EPS Acting Staff Sgt. Ron Smithman.

“When we’re able to get to the scene quickly and start looking for the suspect, we’re generally more successful,” he said.

The neighbour, who didn’t publicly come forward, reported seeing two unknown men carrying bags leave Hiscock’s residence.

She took photos of the vehicle, which helped southeast division officers in their investigation, Smithman said. Investigators were also able to use surveillance footage from a nearby home to track the vehicle to a parking lot a few hours later.

The suspects pawned jewelry that had been stolen during the break and enter, and one person was seen stealing a bicycle, he added.

Officers took three people into custody after conducting a traffic stop.

Police executed a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered property taken during the break and enter, but there were some items that weren’t recovered, including passports and a tablet.

“Luckily we were able to recover most of the property,” Smithman said.

“I think it’s amazing she took pictures right away,” Hiscock noted. “It’s great to know people are looking after us.”

David Carter, 25, is charged with two counts of possession of stolen property, possession of break-in instruments, theft under $5,000 and housebreaking and committing theft.

Sheldon Young, 41, is charged with failing to comply with a probation order and housebreaking and committing theft.

Kirsten Young, 38, is charged with possession of stolen property.

When we’re able to get to the scene quickly and start looking for the suspect, we’re generally more successful.