By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

two robberies at parkland mall

String of jewelry store thefts ends with Red Deer ‘grab and go’

Dec 2, 2021 | 2:36 PM

A series of alleged jewelry thefts in southern and central Alberta have landed two men appearances in court.

The RCMP’s Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit (SACRU), with assistance from police in Airdrie and Calgary, arrested two males on Nov. 24. They are alleged to have committed five ‘grab and go’ robberies at jewelry stores in Calgary on Oct. 4 and Nov. 13, Airdrie on Oct. 16, and Red Deer on Oct. 8 and Nov. 24. The two in Red Deer were at separate stores inside Parkland Mall.

Police say no one was physically harmed during any of the robberies.

While investigating a separate incident south of Red Deer on Nov. 24, at around 2 p.m., SACRU responded to a request from Red Deer RCMP to be on the lookout for a silver grey sedan believed to be fleeing from a theft at a business in Red Deer.

SACRU members spotted the vehicle on the QEII and followed it with help from HAWCS police helicopter to a residence in northwest Calgary. There, two males were taken into custody.

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A search warrant was obtained and executed on the residence, which is where police located a ring worth $2,500, confirmed stolen from the Red Deer jewelry store.

A Nissan Maxima, various pieces of stolen ID, a peace officer’s uniform, wallet and keys to a Saturn vehicle, along with other items unrelated to the Nov. 24 incident, plus small amounts of cocaine and meth, were also seized.

Michael McKie, 53, was arrested on three warrants out of Calgary and has been charged with the following in relation to the five robberies:

· Theft Over $5,000 (x5)

· Possession of stolen property over $5,000

· Possession of Stolen Property Under $5,000.00 (x2)

· Unlawful possession of a controlled substance

· Fail to comply with release order

Carl Quesnell, 49, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Calgary and has been charged with the following in relation to the five robberies:

· Theft Over $5,000.00

· Unlawful possession of a controlled substance

· Fail to comply with release order

After a judicial hearing, McKie and Quesnell did not speak to bail. They were both remanded to appear in Red Deer Provincial Court on Dec. 14.

SACRU is looking for the owners of several drills and a battery booster pack that was recovered. The Hilti drill has the name ‘Brett’ on it and the battery booster pack has ‘WOOL #112.’

If you believe these items are yours, contact Cst. Kim or Sgt. Maclaren at 403-420-4883.

As these matters are now before the courts, no further details can be provided.