Charges laid in connection with business break-ins
Digby RCMP have arrested and charged a man and a woman in connection with a string of break-ins across Digby County, including many in the Clare region.
Between Nov. 11 and
Nov. 28, the Meteghan and Digby RCMP responded to 11 reports of break-ins or attempted break-ins at businesses in Comeauville, Meteghan Centre, Saulnierville, and Weymouth. The targeted businesses included grocery and hardware stores, with some businesses broken into more than once.
Const. Dominic Laflamme, the RCMP's Public Information Officer, confirmed there had been damage caused to businesses as a result of the crimes, although he could not disclose specific details.
“The suspect(s) gained access in a variety of ways, which we are not at liberty to reveal at this time due to the ongoing investigation,” he had said prior to the arrests.
On Dec. 4, as part of the investigation, the RCMP arrested a man and woman and executed a search warrant at a residence on West Street in Digby.
In a media release, the RCMP says during the search officers found several items allegedly linked to the breakins, including two loaded firearms, and a large number of lottery scratch tickets.
The police said they believe some lottery tickets may still be in circulation.
Travis Lee Welch, 39, of Digby faces charges of:
• Breaking and entering with intent
• Fraud (x5)
• Possession of property obtained by crime (x7)
• Mischief (x2)
• Theft
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm/prohibited firearm with ammunition (x2)
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Unsafe storage of firearm (x2)
• Unlawful possession of a firearm (x2)
• Possession of a firearm when knowing possession is unauthorized (x2)
• Careless use of firearm (x2)
Welch was remanded in custody and made his first court appearance in Digby provincial court on Dec. 5.
The 31-year-old woman was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in Digby provincial court later for property-related offences. She was not named because charges had not yet been filed with the court.
"The investigation into the break-ins, which is being led by Digby RCMP and Meteghan RCMP, with assistance of the RCMP Forensic Identification Section, is ongoing," the RCMP says. "Investigators believe other people may be involved in the break-ins and are appealing for information.
Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact the Digby RCMP at 902-245-2579, the Meteghan RCMP at 902-645-2326 or tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or via their website.