Charges pending in lengthy property crime investigation

VULCAN – Four Vulcan residents are facing charges after RCMP completed a multi-jurisdiction investigation into a string of property thefts.
 
Earlier in 2017, RCMP across southern Alberta noted a spike in calls relating to theft from rural properties and oilfield sites. Equipment, tools, batteries, fuel, vehicles and copper wire (pictured above) were among the most common items taken.
 
Vulcan RCMP responded to an oilfield site on March 12, 2017, where some copper wire had been stolen. An officer noticed tire marks in the snow and later located a vehicle with similar tires in the town. A search of the vehicle turned up additional evidence relating to several other property crime files.
 
On March 30, the Nanton and Vulcan detachments, RCMP auto theft and general investigation sections executed a second warrant at a Vulcan residence after reports that stolen goods were being sold on Kijiji. Officers arrested five people and recovered more than $10,000 worth of stolen property.
 
The recovered items has been traced to thefts from High River, Drumheller and Vulcan. RCMP learned through an investigation that  the goods were sold online and to scrap metal dealers in Calgary.
 
Cody Harris, 27, is charged seven offences, including break and enter to a business, failure to comply with a recognizance and possession of property obtained by crime. He’s been remanded into custody to appear in Lethbridge Provincial Court on April 24.
 
Jamie Smith, 39, has been released from custody, charged with two counts of false pretences. She is scheduled to appear in court in Lethbridge on May 15.
 
Robert Fox, 39, is charged with possession of methamphetamine, fraud and failure to comply with a recognizance. He’s also been released from custody to appear in Lethbridge court on April 24.
 
Other charges are also pending against another Vulcan man, whose name cannot be released until the charges are sworn by a judge.
 
An investigation is on-going and additional charges are anticipated.