(RCMP)

By rdnewsNOW staff

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Alberta RCMP uncover central Alberta auto theft scheme

Jun 27, 2024 | 2:19 PM

Three people, including one from Red Deer and another from Lacombe, are facing criminal charges in relation to a series of alleged auto thefts where the vehicle were then allegedly used in serious and violent crimes.

One of them remains at large as of June 27, police add.

The Alberta RCMP Auto Theft Unit has recovered vehicles, worth in excess of $500,000, through a three-month investigation.

In March 2024, the unit identified a trend of brand new Ford Explorers being stolen from dealerships throughout central Alberta.

An RCMP spokesperson confirms the incidences include a single time at Spruce Grove’s Zender Ford, two at Heartland Ford in Fort Saskatchewan, one at Innisfail’s Four Lane Ford, one at Red Deer’s MGM Ford, four in Edmonton at City Ford, Koch Ford and Team Ford, one in Rimbey at Buist GMC, one at Sherwood GMC in Sherwood Park, one at D&D Auto Sales in Camrose, and one at Legacy Ford in Ponoka.

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Police say the thefts were sophisticated, and involved suspects programming new keys for vehicles being driven off dealership lots with both sets of keys accounted for. It was then discovered that the Explorers and numerous others were being re-vinned and registered in Alberta with the fraudulent VIN numbers before being used in the aforementioned crimes.

RCMP believe the stolen vehicles were used in incidents such as the following:

• A 2023 GMC Acadia AT4 that is believed to have been involved in the homicide of Mohamed Abdi in Edmonton. This matter is still under investigation by the Edmonton Police Service.
• A vehicle linked to a shooting on March 30, 2024 in the Mycroft Townhouses in North Edmonton. This matter is also still under investigation by the Edmonton Police Service.
• Two vehicles at the Port of Vancouver, both of which were set to be exported from Canada.
• One vehicle in Ontario by York Regional Police and $150, 000 was seized therein.

As a result of this investigation which included the execution of multiple search warrants in the Edmonton area, RCMP have recovered:

• 7 stolen Ford Explorers;
• 4 stolen Ford F350’s;
• A stolen GMC Acadia;
• A stolen Toyota Rav4;
• 4 stolen trailers;
• 2 stolen snowmobiles;
• Several devices capable of programming vehicle keys;
• A radio frequency detector for locating GPS trackers in vehicles;
• An estimated $30,000 in Cocaine;
• $5000 in Fentanyl;
• as well as MDMA and Methamphetamine.

As a result of this investigation, 48-year-old Quinn Richard Olson, of Lacombe, has been charged with:

• Theft of Motor Vehicle (x2);
• Fraudulent Concealment (x2);
• Break and Enter;
• Possession of break in instruments;
• Possession of master key;
• Altering a VIN number;
• Possession of property obtained by crime (x10);
• Uttering a forged document (x10).

On April 16, 2024 Olson was arrested and taken before a Justice of the Peace. He was remanded with a court date set for July 2 in Edmonton.

Meantime, 25-year-old Nikki Yargeau, a resident of Red Deer, has been charged with:

• Break and enter;
• Fraudulent concealment
• Possession of property obtained by crime (x4);
• Theft of motor vehicle;
• Uttering a forged document (x3).

Yargeau currently has a warrant for her arrest for these offences. RCMP ask that anyone who has information as to her whereabouts to call local police or Crime Stoppers.

William Blackwood, 47, of Lac Saint Anne County, has been charged with seven counts of possession of property obtained by crime.

On June 21, Blackwood was arrested and taken before a Justice of the Peace, and then released with future court dates in Edmonton.

“This investigation has uncovered an active organized crime group securing large amounts of stolen vehicles and property which are being utilized in serious organized crimes and or sold with the intent of exportation outside of Canada,” RCMP say in a statement.

“Statistically, the majority of vehicle thefts in Alberta consist of crimes of opportunity, with vehicles stolen while left running or unlocked which are subsequently used for short time frame and later recovered. The Alberta RCMP Auto Theft Unit would like to remind Albertans that the most effective way to protect yourself is to lock your vehicle and never leave keys in the ignition.”

RCMP add that its Auto Theft Unit has been working with vehicle manufactures to resolve the vulnerabilities in their vehicle systems in order to prevent future vehicle thefts.

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