RCMP Detachment. Image via RMWB.CA
FORT McMURRAY — A provincewide retail crime blitz that included the Wood Buffalo RCMP detachment led to dozens of arrests and the recovery of more than $40,000 in stolen goods, police say.
Alberta RCMP say the enforcement effort ran from March 10 to 20 and involved multiple detachments across the province, including Wood Buffalo, Airdrie, Lloydminster, Parkland, Red Deer, St. Albert, Strathcona County and Wetaskiwin.
Police say 65 arrests were made during the operation, resulting in 48 criminal charges.
Investigators say 10 of those arrested were wanted on outstanding warrants, while 21 individuals had more than 30 previous charges, pointing to a pattern of repeat offending in retail crime cases.
Information gathered during the blitz led the RCMP Community Response Team to arrest a 33-year-old man and execute a search warrant at a residence in St. Albert.
Police say the search resulted in the recovery of nearly $26,500 worth of clothing, contributing to a total of more than $40,000 in retail goods recovered during the operation.
The accused is facing charges including trafficking in stolen property and possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Staff Sgt. Luke Halvorson of the RCMP’s Community Safety and Well-being Branch says officers are increasingly seeing repeat offenders involved in retail crime, raising concerns about safety for employees and shoppers.
RCMP say the operation is part of ongoing efforts to target retail theft using data and intelligence, as police shift resources to address rising trends in that type of crime.
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