B.C. suspects tied to local break-in spree, mail theft
Calgary police have laid nearly 100 charges against four people in a large break-and-enter investigation that affected 2,194 people across four provinces.
The four charged are all from Surrey, B.C., requiring Calgary police to collaborate with Edmonton Police Service, Vancouver Police Department and RCMP in Richmond and Langley, B.C.
The investigation began in August, when Calgary police saw a spike in break-and-enters, motor-vehicle thefts and fraudulent activity relating to the property taken in these offences.
“The collaboration between (police services) and later Canada Post themselves was a good partnership and largely led to the identity (of this group),” said acting Staff Sgt. Todd Nichol of the Calgary police break-and-enter unit.
“This group was not known to the Calgary Police Service, but was known to Vancouver police, Edmonton police and RCMP.”
Police executed a search warrant in the 9000 block of Bridleridge Green S.W., where three of the four suspects were arrested.
Police seized seven firearms, various stolen property and 5,000 pieces of stolen mail from four provinces that affected 2,000-plus citizens.
Once the Canada Post service disruption is resolved, police say, it is expected that 3,970 pieces of the stolen mail will be returned to their rightful owners. Todd said such thefts are not common.
“We do see mail theft from time to time here in Calgary — it’s not one of our larger … or higher frequency type crimes that we see,” said Nichol.
“The purpose behind it would largely be focused at identity theft.”
Nichol said he was unsure how long the group had been operating, though he said mail indicates the criminal activity began before the police investigation was launched in August.
“The majority of the mail we recovered was from the period of the summer months.”
Robert Paul Allard, 30, Steven Edward Hart, 34, Courtney Lee Delf, 29, and Laetitia Angelique Acera, 25, are facing 87 collective charges including break-and-enter, motor-vehicle theft, identity theft and possession of stolen mail.