Over $300K worth of stolen items recovered in rural Alberta investigation

A man has been charged with multiple offences, and a number of items have been recovered, after a three-monthinvestigation in the Calgary area by the RCMP'scrime reduction unit based in Cochrane.

With assistance from the RCMP'scrime reduction unit for the southern Alberta district, the Cochrane team investigated a series of what they callhigh-end break-insthat occurred in Rocky View Countyand Foothills County, which surround Calgary.

Throughthe investigations, a suspect was identified and was later arrested after a search warrant was executed at a Calgary residence on Nov.16.

The first break-inoccurred on Aug.11, police said.

"Speaking from a district perspective, it's not a common occurrence, it is a significant investigation," said Supt. Rick Jan with the RCMP.

"The dollar values are higher than average, I would say, than typical in this district."

Another search warrant on Nov.18 was executed at a storage locker in Calgary and the following items were recovered and seized:

• Clothing believed to have been worn in two of the break-ins.
• Over $200,000 worth of stolen jewelry.
• Stolen identity documents.
• Stolen credit cards and passports.
• 5 firearms and ammunition.
• Watches, designer clothing and bags.
• A stolen Ducati motorcycle, a stolen Ford F-150 and an Audi Q5 believed to have been used in all the break-ins.

Jan said the items will be held until the court process is complete. After that point, they will determine ownership and determine a course of action.

A 35-year-old man has been charged with the following offences:

• 5 counts of breaking and entering and theft.
• Possession of stolen property obtained by crime over $5,000.
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm.
• 3 counts of breach of probation .
• Unsafe storage of a firearm.

The investigation is ongoing and RCMP said there is evidence at some of the break-insthat the suspect was not acting alone.