A year-long investigation into a commercial vehicle theft ring in Edmonton has resulted in police seizing $3.5 million in stolen property and laying dozens of charges.
On Feb. 8, 2018, the Edmonton Police Service‘s commercial vehicle investigation detail launched Project Timber, an investigation into several suspects who were alleged to be stealing semi-tractor trailer units loaded with lumber.
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“It actually started with the recovery of a stolen semi with its load just west of Edmonton,” said Sgt. Kerry Bates.
“Surveillance was conducted by a supporting unit for us and identified the driver and another person at that time. Our investigation that took a year grew from that event. We were aware there was loads of lumber and tractor trailers going missing and being recovered. But that was the one incident that led to the whole incident being uncovered.”
Bates said there were, in total, 10 incidents of tractor trailers and their loads of lumber going missing.
Police say the suspects were targeting the big rigs, which were parked overnight in various industrial areas around the city. Many of the vehicles targeted were parked on the side of the street outside a lumber distribution centre north of the Yellowhead.
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The suspects would sell the stolen lumber to unsuspecting clients outside of Edmonton, according to police. The tractor trailers would then be left in trucking yards or other locations, according to Bates, but have since been recovered.
Four people were arrested and are now facing a total of 80 charges. Bates said the suspects are not involved with the distribution site or any of the trucking companies.
Morris Simmonds, 56, is facing 40 charges, including 12 counts of theft of a motor vehicle, 10 counts of theft over $5,000 and 10 counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000 as well as charges related to having break-in tools, disqualified driving and having an uninsured vehicle on the highway.
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Bradley Simmonds, 30, is also charged with 12 counts of theft of a motor vehicle, 10 counts of theft over $5,000 and nine counts of possession of stolen property as well as charges related to having break-in tools and having an uninsured vehicle on the highway.
Monica McNicol, 53, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime and possession stolen property over $5,000.
William Engelking, 68, was charged with two counts of trafficking in stolen property and two counts of possession stolen property over $5,000.
“It took a lot of digging and support from other units,” Bates said about how difficult it was to recover the lumber, which is oftentimes untraceable.
“Thus the year-long investigation to locate it and track it down, warrants and all those sorts of things, to come up with all the items that were missing.”
Bates said most of the lumber that went missing has been recovered.