Innisfail RCMP is expected to lay charges against local citizens in connection to a massive burglary bust in the region on Nov. 8 that resulted in the recovery of tens of thousands of dollars of stolen property.
RCMP says the bust and subsequent charges are in connection to multiple break and enters and thefts in Innisfail, Olds and other central Alberta communities dating back to April.
Innisfail RCMP S. Sgt. Chris Matechuk said local police were not involved in the Nov. 8 operation but did conduct interviews with people of interest leading up to the bust, which were conducted by officers in other detachments.
“We are going to have some charges locally,” Matechuk said last week, adding his detachment is now alerting local businesses on the stolen property that was recovered. “The property has to be identified. As far as I know the bulk of it is from businesses.”
One of those businesses was the local Home Hardware outlet, which was hit with an $18,000 break and enter and theft incident earlier this year.
“They (RCMP) told us we would probably be able to go to Olds to try to identify what is ours. We are hoping that either this week or early next week we can get out there. It sounds like they definitely have some of our stuff,” said Todd Emerson, manager of Home Hardware, who added the bust is a relief to the local business community. “Absolutely. Especially all around us it sounds like every business has been hit in the last couple of months. I am glad that something has finally happened here.”
The investigation that led to the Nov. 8 bust began as a result of a traffic stop in Sundre on Oct. 28. RCMP determined the vehicle had been reported stolen from Olds and was loaded with stolen property, including various tools, electronics and copper wire.
Two days later, Sundre RCMP executed a search warrant at Sundre's Sun Plaza Motel, which resulted in the recovery of a large amount of stolen property.
As a result of the Sundre RCMP's investigation, two males - Jason Furlong, 30 and Kevin Leischner, 42 - were charged with multiple counts of theft, possession of stolen property, possession of break-in tools and obstruction of a peace officer.
Cpl. Ryan Hodge, a spokesman for the Sundre RCMP, said police were also in the process of laying a charge of theft over $5,000 against Furlong in connection with a theft of roughly $20,000 of copper wire from a business in the industrial area on Oct. 17.
Following Sundre RCMP's probe, Olds RCMP attended to a rural Olds property with Three Hills RCMP members and recovered several items, which had been stolen from various businesses in the Olds and Innisfail areas.
The investigation resulted in a search warrant that was executed in Olds on Nov. 8, and the subsequent recovery of stolen property with a total value of between $30,000 and $40,000. The items included tires, stereo equipment, tools, power tools, gardening tools, gardening chemicals and a firearm. Many of the items were determined to be stolen from businesses in Sundre, Innisfail and as far away as Rocky Mountain House.
Police in Olds, Sundre, Innisfail and Didsbury are working together on the investigation.
Furlong and Leischner were scheduled to appear in Didsbury court on Nov. 18.
