CANMORE – RCMP have laid charges against three people tied to 17 breaks and enters on a spree that started in Canmore in 2016.
In a press release from Strathcona County RCMP, officials said the detachment’s General Investigation Section and Property Crimes Unit had been investigating a series of break and enters of thefts from ATMs at gas stations across the four RCMP districts in Alberta since July 2019.
After identifying the involved suspects, the officers said they successfully linked and laid charges for 17 break and enters dating back nearly four years on a spree that started at the Canmore Shell on Aug. 10, 2016.
A total of $650,000 cash was stolen from the 17 gas stations which also included:
- Airdrie Shell on Sept. 18, 2016
- Red Deer Shell on Oct. 14, 2016
- Blackfalds Fas Gas on Aug. 19, 2017
- Blackfalds Fas Gas on Dec. 13, 2017
- Valleyview Petro Canada on Jan. 22, 2018
- Bonnyville Fas Gas on June 14, 2018
- Red Deer Fas Gas on Aug. 6, 2018 and Aug. 9, 2018
- Slave Lake Fas Gas on March 20, 2019
- Devon Fas Gas on April 15, 2019
- Leduc Fas Gas on April 17, 2019
- Sherwood Park Fas Gas on July 4, 2019
- Devon Fas Gas on Aug. 9, 2019
- Coleman Esso on Nov. 23, 2019
- Airdrie Fas Gas on Nov. 25, 2019
- Penhold Fas Gas on Nov. 26, 2019
Kevin Lee Sider, 40, from Edmonton, is facing 33 charges including the 17 break and enters to businesses, money laundering and possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Bruce Wayne Larter, 53, from Leduc, is facing 11 charges including four break and enters to businesses, money laundering and possession of stolen property over $5,000. He was also previously charged for the Slave Lake and Valleyview gas station break and enters.
Kristal Lynn Watson, 36, from Edmonton, is facing three charges, one of money laundering and two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Officials thanked the targeting and neighbouring businesses for the CCTV footage that contributed significantly to the investigation.
“I want to acknowledge the significant amount of work undertaken by our Property Crime Unit as well as express my appreciation to all the involved businesses for their assistance to us,” Staff Sgt. Andrew Kyle with the Strathcona County RCMP General Investigation Section said in a press release. “We will continue to collaborate with specialized units to combat property crime.
The Strathcona RCMP detachment worked with the Bonnyville RCMP Detachment’s General Investigation Section and the Slave Lake RCMP Detachment, while also partnering with the Forensic Accounting Management Group (FAMG) at Public Services and Procurement Canada, K Division Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) Section, K Division Auto Theft Unit, and Service Alberta’s Strategic and Consumer Services’ Special Investigations Unit.