Three charged in string of cooper wire thefts

Back in May, the RCMP Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit conducted an investigation into a string of thefts and damage to from Oil and Gas and Agriculture infrastructure. As a result, three people have been arrested and charged by RCMP over a series of thefts and mischief in our region targeting copper wire throughout southeastern Alberta including Lethbridge County, M.D. of Taber and Newell County.

RCMP officers from various units observed a property near Vauxhall back in the morning of May 29^th where they witnessed the suspects attempting to steal irrigation equipment. The suspects attempted to flee in two separate vehicles, with one vehicle caught stuck in a field with a substantial amount of copper wire, where police arrested a man. The other vehicle began to dangerously speed through rural highways and secondary roads, before it was disabled with a tire deflation device. A male and female suspects were also arrested with copper wire in their possession.

Police have confirmed through the investigation that the suspects were involved in additional thefts throughout southern Alberta. The May 29^th theft resulted in $96,000 of damage to the irrigation equipment, which could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars of loss revenue for reduced crop returns for the now immobilized irrigation.

David Dyck (27), a resident of Lethbridge, Alta., has been charged with the following:

• Mischief over $5000 x 2
• Theft over $5000 x 2
• Trafficking in Property obtained by Crime

Gerhard Martens (34), a resident of Raymond, Alta., has been charged with the following:

• Mischief over $5000
• Theft over $5000 x 2
• Trafficking in Property obtained by Crime x 2
• Flight from Peace Officer
• Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
• Resisting Arrest

Kaylee Grisdale (24), a resident of Raymond, Alta., has been charged with the following:

• Mischief over $5000
• Theft over $5000

The three were released following a judicial interim hearing on June 23^rd, which was adjourned to July 14^th at the Alberta Court of Justice in Taber.