Over $300K worth of stolen items recovered in rural Alberta investigation

A man has been charged with multiple offences, and a number of items have been recovered, after a three-month investigation in the Calgary area by the RCMP's crime reduction unit based in Cochrane.

With assistance from the RCMP's crime reduction unit for the southern Alberta district, the Cochrane team investigated a series of what they call high-end break-ins that occurred in Rocky View County and Foothills County, which surround Calgary. 

Through the investigations, a suspect was identified and was later arrested after a search warrant was executed at a Calgary residence on Nov. 16.

The first break-in occurred on Aug. 11, police said.

"Speaking from a district perspective, it's not a common occurrence, it is a significant investigation," said Supt. Rick Jané with the RCMP.

"The dollar values are higher than average, I would say, than typical in this district."

Another search warrant on Nov. 18 was executed at a storage locker in Calgary and the following items were recovered and seized:

• Clothing believed to have been worn in two of the break-ins.
• Over $200,000 worth of stolen jewelry.
• Stolen identity documents.
• Stolen credit cards and passports.
• 5 firearms and ammunition.
• Watches, designer clothing and bags.
• A stolen Ducati motorcycle, a stolen Ford F-150 and an Audi Q5 believed to have been used in all the break-ins.

Jané said the items will be held until the court process is complete. After that point, they will determine ownership and determine a course of action.

A 35-year-old man has been charged with the following offences:

• 5 counts of breaking and entering and theft.
• Possession of stolen property obtained by crime over $5,000.
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm.
• 3 counts of breach of probation .
• Unsafe storage of a firearm.

The investigation is ongoing and RCMP said there is evidence at some of the break-ins that the suspect was not acting alone.