RCMP in southern Alberta arrested three suspects and laid 94 charges after an Airdrie resident reported a suspicious vehicle.
At around 8 a.m. on June 27, police were called by a resident of Big Hill Springs Road just west of Range Road 13. The caller believed the occupants of a U-Haul van outside may be casing out his property.
Police responded and said one of the suspects was trying to scrape the U-Haul decals off the van. Police said they could also see “numerous break-in tools and pieces of mail strewn about the van.”
All three suspects were taken into custody.
Police searched the van further and said they found break-in tools, firearms, ammunition, drugs, stolen identification, mail and cheques and equipment that could be used to forge fraudulent documents.
The evidence helped police solve dozens of open investigations.
“A concerned citizen taking the time to call in what they believed to be a suspicious vehicle has resulted in the solving of over 40 crimes committed throughout Rocky View County, Airdrie, Calgary, Chestermere and Okotoks,” Cst. Dan Martin said in a news release Thursday. “The Airdrie RCMP rely on community members to help police with crime prevention and crime reduction.
“This is a perfect example of the community working with police to fight crime.”
A 29-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, both from Calgary, and a 19-year-old woman from Edmonton are facing 94 charges that include possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of a controlled substance, theft of mail, forgery and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Charged are Shawn Patrick Corliss, 29, Hayley Elizabeth McGown, 23, both of Calgary, and Taylor Leigh Admussen, 19, from Edmonton. All three were released from custody and are scheduled to appear in Airdrie Provincial Court on July 26.