A ‘sophisticated’ auto theft group has been successfully shut down according to Alberta RCMP.
Alberta RCMP found documentation which led to the identification of numerous stolen vehicles, some which have been linked to other crimes.
The vehicles seized include a 2023 GMC Acadia AT4 that is believed to be involved in an Edmonton Homicide which is still being investigated by Edmonton Police Services. Another vehicle seizure within this investigation is believed to be linked to a North Edmonton shooting which occurred on March 30, 2024 , which is also still under EPS investigation.
Supt. Michael McCauley spoke with the media about the investigation:
Two vehicles were also recovered from a port in Vancouver and were set to be shipped overseas. Another vehicle was seized in Ontario with a $150,000 cash inside the vehicle.
This investigation led to Alberta Mounties recovering the following:
- 7 Ford Explorers
- 4 Ford F-350s
- GMC Acadia
- Toyota Rav 4
- 4 trailers
- 2 snowmobiles
- several devices capable of programming vehicle keys
- A radio frequecy detector used for locating GPS trackers in vehicles
- an estimated $30,000 in cocaine
- an estimated $5,000 in fentanyl
- MDMA and methamphetamines
Supt. Michael McCauley also added that with technology constantly changing, criminals are always learning to adapt with the vehicle market, which tends to tunr into a game of “catch-up” :
48 year old Quinn Richard Olsen, a Lacombe, AB resident now faces 28 charges including possession of stolen property, theft of a motor vehicle, altering VINs and more.
On April 16, 2024, Olsen was arrested and taken into custody and remanded into custody with a court date scheduled for July 2. 2024 in Edmonton.
A 25 year-old female Red Deer resident, Nicki Yarjo has been charged with 10 offences and has a warrants out for her arrest.
47 year-old WIlliam Blackwood of Lac St. Anne County also faces 7 charges. Blackwood was arrested on June 21, 2024 and released with future court dates in Edmonton.
No other information was provided as there are still multiple investigations ongoing with the Edmonton Police Service
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