Repeat victims of vandalism and theft are relieved after two men were charged following a string of business break-ins in the Bragg Creek, Priddis and Turner Valley area from Sept. 29 to Oct. 22.
Cory Morgan, co-owner of Water’s Edge Pub in Priddis, which was broken into with items stolen and $8,000 worth of damage caused on Oct. 15 and Oct. 22, expressed relief after hearing Ian Charles Abercrombie, 23, formerly of Calgary, and Ethan Michael Enns, 19, of Calgary were taken into custody by the Cochrane Crime Reduction Unit on Nov. 19.
The men are charged with eight counts of break and enter to a business and five counts of wearing a mask while committing an indictable offence.
“This capture means this ordeal is starting to come to an end and we can just carry on with our business like we wanted to,” Morgan said. “It sounds like they seized a number of items in the Airdrie area so I wouldn’t be shocked that they were tied to a number of other crimes.”
After his pub closed for the night on Oct. 15, Morgan said culprits smashed the front door, attempted to remove an ATM with a truck, removed cash and liquor and caused damage using crowbars. Morgan suspects it was the same individuals who caused more damage and theft a week later.
He said surveillance cameras caught three men and one woman in the act, and he’s confident more arrests will soon be made.
“I imagine they’ll get the other two of them soon,” Morgan said. “From the reports they (the men arrested) are young guys. For their own sake I hope they learn from this because it could have ended up a lot more tragically.”
The Powderhorn Saloon owner Rose Dallyn, whose Bragg Creek business was hit on Oct. 14 and 16, said she and her staff are pleased with the charges.
“If it’s the right guys, great,” she said. “We’re all relieved. I’m guessing they’ll be released soon, but I’m sure they won’t be doing it again.”
Dallyn said the saloon is hit once a year by thieves, but twice in one week by who she believes were the same people was shocking.
“It’s not like we’re never going to get broken into again, it’s not like this solves the crime problem,” she said. “We have been keeping an extra watch at night time. I have been leaving an extra light on. I always do that now.”
The two suspects are scheduled for a court appearance at Cochrane Provincial Court on Dec. 3. Abercrombie has been remanded in custody after a judicial interim hearing and Enns has been released.
"The public has been very supportive of our efforts in this investigation and we’re extremely pleased to report these results," said Sgt. Ryan Singleton, operations support NCO of the Cochrane RCMP detachment. "This has been a comprehensive effort, and the investigation continues with support from several different units and detachments.”
Cochrane RCMP launched a coordinated investigation and identified several suspects. As part of the investigation, the Cochrane Crime Reduction Unit, Cochrane General Investigation Section and Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit obtained a search warrant on Nov. 20 for a property south of Airdrie.
During the search, police recovered several all-terrain vehicles, a motorcycle, a covered trailer, a pick-up truck and other stolen property. Police believe the truck was used to commit offences.
“We’re in the process now of matching up that property with the people who were affected,'' Singleton said.
During the investigation, RCMP worked enhanced shifts doing night surveillance in unmarked vehicles, Singleton said.
The Province recently launched a plan to deter rural crime, reinforce property rights and give victims a stronger voice in the justice system. The Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence (RAPID) Force will expand the roles and authorities of 400 peace officers in the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Branch, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Branch and the traffic arm of the Alberta Sheriffs.
Singleton says the RAPID Force initiative will enhance and improve communication and intelligence between police in Alberta.
Anyone with more information about these offences is asked to contact Cochrane RCMP at 403-851-8000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.p3tips.com.
With files from Cathi Arola of the Cochrane Eagle.
