A police sting operation on a house in south Red Deer has resulted in Central Alberta’s largest ever recovery of stolen electronics and DVDs, totalling more than $100,000.
Undercover officers seized the property, reported stolen from stores across Alberta and British Columbia, when a search warrant was executed on Iverson Close in Inglewood on Monday. Three people were arrested inside the home.
One man was later released and two people have been charged with various property offences.
More than 2,500 new DVD and Blu-Ray discs, scores of televisions, various video games including Wii games and Xbox 360, and a number of computers were hauled out of the residence.
“It’s most likely the largest (electronic and DVD recovery) in history for our area,” said Red Deer city RCMP spokeswoman Const. Sabrina Grunow on Wednesday. “I think we’ll see more of this as the city grows.”
She said the items are now in locked storage.
Police are trying to unravel where all the goods came from. Police do know the property comes from larger retail outlets across Alberta and B.C., but how many is uncertain. Grunow could only say numerous communities were involved.
Grunow said the goods were for sale.
“But as far as who the intended purchaser was, I don’t have further details,” she said.
How the property ended up in Red Deer is unknown and is part of the investigation. RCMP from Sylvan Lake and Red Deer are involved.
Police were investigating several other locations in Red Deer this week, Grunow said.
Educating store staff is important in cracking down on this kind of crime, she added.
Ricardo Hudson, 30, of Red Deer, appeared briefly in court on Wednesday on five counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000; two counts of possession of break-in instruments; one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; and one count of mischief to data. He will be back in court on Friday for election and plea.
Carla Chilton, 23, of Lacombe, was released and ordered to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Tuesday on six counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000; two counts of possession of break-in instruments; and one count mischief to data.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com