Couple charged with selling stolen goods
Two Medicine Hat residents have been charged with trafficking stolen goods.
The investigation began in October and involved stolen property sold online. A search warrant was executed on the couple’s home, where police discovered several thousand dollars in items including baby monitors, shoes, tools and accessories. The total value is estimated at $10,000.
Scott Saunders, 37, and Lindsay Saunders, 34, are charged with trafficking in stolen goods under $5,000, proceeds of crime under $5,000, possession for purpose of trafficking under $5,000 and over $5,000. Police also seized a 2014 Dodge Journey operated by the couple considered to be the proceeds of crime. The items were stolen in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Coaldale, the investigation revealed.
Scott Saunders was released on a $2,000 no-cash recognizance with conditions to appear in provincial court on Dec. 18. Lindsay Saunders was remanded into custody and is set to appear in provincial court later today.
The release from the Medicine Hat Police Service reminds people that local stores can be victims of retail crime, and often the money raised from this type of crime is used to fund other, more serious criminal activity, like purchasing drugs or weapons. In addition, the cost of the loss and increasing security to prevent further loss, is passed along to consumers through higher prices.
Before buying online, police advise, compare the price of goods to their typical market value. “If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
— Ask the sellers how they obtained the property and why they are selling it so cheap. If the answers do not add up, it should be cause for concerns;
— In addition, if you check to see what else the seller has for sale, and they are selling primarily new goods and are not a business it should be a red flag;
— Contact the MHPS when you see people shoplifting or selling goods online that you believe to be stolen by calling the non-emergency line at 403529-8481 or submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.