Man charged with string of thefts in Fort Mcmurray
Multiple vehicles stolen and others damaged during break-ins, RCMP say
Wood Buffalo RCMP have charged a 27-year-old man in connection with multiple reports of stolen and damaged vehicles and property, with the first incident dating back to July.
Police believe the first incident happened on July 31 when a vehicle was reported stolen in Eagle Ridge.
Another stolen vehicle was reported downtown Aug. 28 and a third stolen vehicle report was made from Eagle Ridge on Sept. 29.
In the first two cases, police found the stolen vehicles abandoned downtown within 24 hours. The third vehicle was found abandoned downtown on Sept. 28.
On Sept. 20, police were told a donation box for a charity was stolen along with other items from a Beacon Hill business.
The next day, police were told of multiple vehicles broken into at a downtown underground parking lot.
More vehicles were found broken into at an Abasand underground parking lot on Oct. 7.
General duty officers, the RCMP'S criminal intelligence section and forensic identification section used surveillance footage, statements and fingerprints to identify Derek Marcel Cooper as a suspect.
A warrant was issued for his arrest on Nov. 22 after Cooper did not meet with police for identification purposes. He was arrested downtown on Dec. 2.
Cooper's charges include six counts of mischief under $5,000, five counts of failure to comply, and two counts each of theft under $5,000, misuse of a credit card and possessing stolen property.
He has also been charged with one count each of mischief over $5,000, break and enter with intent, possessing stolen property under $5,000, and failure to appear.
Cooper remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear in the Fort Mcmurray courthouse on Dec. 14.
Anyone with information about this incident or criminal activity in Wood Buffalo is asked to contact Wood Buffalo RCMP at 780-7884040 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 (TIPS). Tips to Crime Stoppers are always anonymous and can be sent to tipsubmit.com.