Same fake name used in $230K Alberta beef heist and theft of 7 hot tubs

The RCMP are investigating the theft of a fullload of beef valued at over $230,000 from an Alberta meat-packing plantthat was in a transport truck linked to the recenttheft of seven hot tubs.

The truck was subcontracted to transport the meat from the JBSbeef plantnear Brooks, Alta., southeast of Calgary,to the U.S. on Aug. 30, RCMP said in a press release on Monday.

But it never made the delivery.

Mounties say the truck was operating under fraudulent documentsand under the fraudulent name of "Transport Pascal Charland" out of Chateauguay, Que.

Less than a week later, on Sept. 4,seven hot tubs were stolen in Thorsby, Alta. some 330 kilometres to the northwest, near Edmonton in a truck registered under the same fake name, out of thethe same Montreal suburb. It's not clear if it was the same truck.

In that case, a truck pulled onto the property and the hot tubs were loaded without permission.

• Hot tub heist: RCMP investigate spas stolen from Alberta manufacturing site

The truck in the meat heist is described by the RCMPas a burgundy semi-trailerwith a large bunk that was pulling a white, refrigerated enclosed trailer.

The suspect is described as a tall white male with a heavy buildandshort brown hair, slightly balding.RCMP said he was wearing blue jeans, a black T-shirt, yellow fluorescent vestand a surgical mask.

A similar but somewhat different description was given of the suspect in the hot tub theft.

Brooks RCMPare asking anyone with information about the incident to call 403-794-4400.