ARTICLES

Nearly one million dollars’ worth of stolen property has been recovered following an extensive investigation into stolen holiday trailers and campers. ALERT’s Southeast Alberta Property Crime unit has charged two Medicine Hat men.

Following a three-month investigation, ALERT has recovered 13 stolen holiday travel trailers, and other stolen vehicles and property, worth an estimated $970,000. The other stolen property included a sports car, recreational vehicles, motorbikes, tools, and various vehicle parts.

“This was a complex, coordinated scheme that undoubtedly ruined many family’s summer vacation plans. However, the impact of organized crime extends beyond the victim, and is a cost that society collectively bears,” said Supt. Dwayne Lakusta, ALERT CEO.

ALERT alleges two Medicine Hat men were involved in the thefts, and fraudulently re-vinned the trailers before being re-sold. A search of one of the suspect’s homes yielded materials for making fraudulent VIN stickers.

“Vehicle theft is a serious issue that affects us all through higher insurance premiums and can also be a risk to personal safety. Insurance Bureau of Canada is pleased to have been involved in this investigation and we congratulate ALERT for their success in recovering the stolen property,” said Sid Kingma, Director, Investigative Services, Western and Pacific Region, IBC.

Nathan Herter, 36-year-old man, was arrested in Medicine Hat on June 18, 2021 and charged with theft over $5,000, possession of break and enter tools, suspended driving, and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Mathew Hillier, a 36-year-old man, was arrested in Hope, BC on June 29, 2021 and charged with theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property.

The thefts date as far back as December 2020 and spread across the westernmost provinces. ALERT’s investigation relied on the assistance of Service Alberta, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Medicine Hat Police, and various RCMP detachments.

ALERT continues to investigate and is not ruling out additional charges.

To date, ALERT has recovered:

• Elevation trailer stolen in Redcliff and recovered in Sylvan Lake;
• Keystone camper stolen in Dunmore and recovered in Lacombe County;
• Reflection camper stolen in Lacombe and recovered in Hope, BC;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Hope, BC;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Redcliff and recovered in Hope, BC;
• Keystone camper stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Tompkins, Sask.;
• Jayco camper stolen in Red Deer and recovered in Cypress County;
• Keystone trailer stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Langdon;
• Dutchman trailer stolen in Dunmore and recovered in Kelowna;
• Keystone camper stolen in Strathmore and recovered in County of Forty Mile;
• Sunvalley camper stolen in Lethbridge and recovered in Kelowna;
• Palamino trailer stolen in Regina, Sask. And recovered in Cypress County;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Lacombe and recovered in Brock, Sask.;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Drumheller and recovered in Brock, Sask;
• Keystone trailer stolen in Swift Current, Sask. and recovered in Calgary;
• Keystone camper stolen in Lacombe and recovered in Brock, Sask; and
• Mirage trailer stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Brock, Sask.

A number of trailers were purchased at steep discounts, and already in the possession of a third-party.

ALERT believes there are still numerous stolen trailers outstanding and the investigation is ongoing. If you believe you may have unknowingly purchased a stolen trailer, you can contact ALERT’s Southeast Alberta Regional Property Crime unit at 403-529-8481.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.

Nearly one million dollars’ worth of stolen property has been recovered following an extensive investigation into stolen holiday trailers and campers. ALERT’s Southeast Alberta Property Crime unit has charged two Medicine Hat men.
 
Following a three-month investigation, ALERT has recovered 13 stolen holiday travel trailers, and other stolen vehicles and property, worth an estimated $970,000. The other stolen property included a sports car, recreational vehicles, motorbikes, tools, and various vehicle parts.
 
“This was a complex, coordinated scheme that undoubtedly ruined many family’s summer vacation plans. However, the impact of organized crime extends beyond the victim, and is a cost that society collectively bears,” said Supt. Dwayne Lakusta, ALERT CEO.
 
ALERT alleges two Medicine Hat men were involved in the thefts, and fraudulently re-vinned the trailers before being re-sold. A search of one of the suspect’s homes yielded materials for making fraudulent VIN stickers.
 
“Vehicle theft is a serious issue that affects us all through higher insurance premiums and can also be a risk to personal safety. Insurance Bureau of Canada is pleased to have been involved in this investigation and we congratulate ALERT for their success in recovering the stolen property,” said Sid Kingma, Director, Investigative Services, Western and Pacific Region, IBC.
 
Nathan Herter, 36-year-old man, was arrested in Medicine Hat on June 18, 2021 and charged with theft over $5,000, possession of break and enter tools, suspended driving, and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
 
Mathew Hillier, a 36-year-old man, was arrested in Hope, BC on June 29, 2021 and charged with theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property.
 
The thefts date as far back as December 2020 and spread across the westernmost provinces. ALERT’s investigation relied on the assistance of Service Alberta, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Medicine Hat Police, and various RCMP detachments.
 
ALERT continues to investigate and is not ruling out additional charges.
 
To date, ALERT has recovered:

• Elevation trailer stolen in Redcliff and recovered in Sylvan Lake;
• Keystone camper stolen in Dunmore and recovered in Lacombe County;
• Reflection camper stolen in Lacombe and recovered in Hope, BC;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Hope, BC;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Redcliff and recovered in Hope, BC;
• Keystone camper stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Tompkins, Sask.;
• Jayco camper stolen in Red Deer and recovered in Cypress County;
• Keystone trailer stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Langdon;
• Dutchman trailer stolen in Dunmore and recovered in Kelowna;
• Keystone camper stolen in Strathmore and recovered in County of Forty Mile;
• Sunvalley camper stolen in Lethbridge and recovered in Kelowna;
• Palamino trailer stolen in Regina, Sask. And recovered in Cypress County;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Lacombe and recovered in Brock, Sask.;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Drumheller and recovered in Brock, Sask;
• Keystone trailer stolen in Swift Current, Sask. and recovered in Calgary;
• Keystone camper stolen in Lacombe and recovered in Brock, Sask; and
• Mirage trailer stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Brock, Sask.

 
A number of trailers were purchased at steep discounts, and already in the possession of a third-party.
 
ALERT believes there are still numerous stolen trailers outstanding and the investigation is ongoing. If you believe you may have unknowingly purchased a stolen trailer, you can contact ALERT’s Southeast Alberta Regional Property Crime unit at 403-529-8481.
 
Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.
 
ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.

Despite existing law, and education and awareness efforts, impaired driving continues to be a leading criminal cause of death in Canada, claiming hundreds of lives and causing tens of thousands of injuries each year.

In recent years there have been two important changes to legislation that attempt to eliminate impaired driving offences by providing police and prosecution with improved investigative powers to detect and prosecute those who choose to drive impaired.

On December 18, 2018, part two of federal legislation Bill-C46 came into effect, which introduced substantial changes to criminal code driving laws. The most impactful change with Bill-C46 was under section 320.27(2) CC and is referred to as Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS). This section allows police who are equipped with alcohol screening devices, to conduct a roadside screening breath test for alcohol impairment with any motorist at the beginning of each traffic stop, whether they suspect the motorist has consumed alcohol or not.

MAS is widely recognized as an effective anti-impaired driving measure. In use for over four decades, it has been attributed to reducing fatal motor vehicle collisions, by as much as 25%, in countries such as Ireland and Australia.

The test is non-discriminatory and is very quick, taking less than a minute, to complete. Officers open a new mouthpiece in front of the driver each time the test is administered, and all equipment is sanitized between each vehicle stop.

A second important legislative change came into effect in Alberta on December 1, 2020, when Bill 21, The Provincial Administrative Penalties Act came into force. As an additional deterrent for impaired driving, under the new legislation immediate roadside penalties were introduced including escalating driver’s licence suspensions, fines, vehicle seizure lengths, mandatory education programs and an expanded ignition interlock program.

For more information on these impaired driving legislative changes visit: https://www.alberta.ca/criminal-level-impaired-driving.aspx

Drive safe Medicine Hat!

Media Contact:

Rita Sittler
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8416

Emergency Crews are on the scene of a train derailment at Rotary Centennial Dr NW (23 St NW) and Box Springs Rd NW., Medicine Hat. The matter appears minor in nature and there were no injuries as a result.

Please avoid the area and allow our crews to work.

The Canadian Pacific Railroad or the Canadian Pacific Police Service will be the point of contact for any future media inquires

Crime prevention initiatives are focused on reducing the amount of petty crime through preventative measures and increasing vigilance/awareness of our environments. By sharing information with community members and working with local neighborhood watch groups around the city, the Medicine Hat Police Service strives to tap into the collective resources of our community to stop thieves.

To assist with this goal, Cst. Williams of the MHPS Patrol Section has prepared some information on how community members can help, including; when to call the police and how to provide a description of a subject.

When to call the police:

Police should be called whenever there is a concern for public safety. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency situation, including crimes in progress, or 403-529-8481 for all other non-emergencies. If an offence is witnessed while it is being committed, the quicker you call, the better chance police officers have of catching the suspects. At NO time should a member of the public engage with a suspect(s), for obvious safety reasons. Be aware, if a significant incident has taken place, officers may need to contain the situation before follow-up statements are obtained from witnesses, but they will reach out to you.

How to provide a description of a suspect:

A simple, easy to remember and effective method of providing a description of a person is known as the A-to-H method:

A = AGE, try to estimate age in 5-year segments, for example 40-45 years old etc

B = BUILD, describe the build as; stocky, muscular, skinny, as weight can be difficult to estimate, especially depending on the time of year and clothing worn

C = CLOTHING, describe the type of clothing worn, including color, and any descriptive details such as badges or logos which are always helpful

D = DISTINGUISHING FEATURES – tattoos’, piercings, basically anything that makes a person standout in a crowd

E = ELEVATION (height) – again can be difficult to determine accurately, but try to bracket the height, for example 5’6” to 5’9”, and compare to things that you know the height of or that could be measured

F = FACE – describe the face shape or characteristics, such as round, acne, beard, fat, thin, etc

G = GAIT (how they walk) some people have a distinct way of walking, including a shuffle or limp, etc

H = HAIR, color, length, style etc

Providing detailed information will help police track down subjects. You may only get a short glimpse of the suspect, so knowing what details to look for can help you to provide the most useful information. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and video is even better, so if you have footage of the person or event, please advise the dispatcher right away when calling in so that information can be passed along to the attending officers.

Next week we will look at some methods of protecting property, by recording items etc. Until then stay safe Medicine Hat!

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) has noted an increase in calls for service to local licenced establishments over the past four weeks. The calls typically involve; large groups of patrons congregating in parking lots in the early morning hours, and violent offences including assaults.

The MHPS has been working closely with the business owners and have provided several recommendations for safety measure that are intended to enhance safety for patrons as well as the public. In addition, the MHPS will also be providing an increased visible presence at the locations during peak hours and ensure compliance with all provincial and municipal regulations.

The MHPS would like to remind everyone to drink responsibly and that it is an offence under the Alberta Gaming, liquor and Cannabis Act for any minor (under the age of 18), to attend licenced premise unless properly permitted. Licenced premises are also required to refuse entry to those who are intoxicated and can not serve those within who are intoxicated.

Media Contact:

Insp. Brent Secondiak
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8410

On August 3, 2021, at approximately 10:00 AM members of the Medicine Hat Police Service received a report from a victim who advised that he had been confined to and assaulted within a residence located in the Crestwood area of Medicine Hat, AB.

The investigation determined that during the evening of August 2, 2021, a male had confined the victim inside the residence, where he proceeded to assault the victim by striking him with a baseball bat, punching, and choking him. The violent assaults continued for an extended period, until the victim was finally allowed to leave on morning of August 3, 2021. The victim fled the area and located a friend who contacted police for assistance.

Resulting from this investigation, Zechariah Jordan, 33-years-old has been charged with; assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, assault choking, unlawful confinement, and breach of release order.

Media Contact:
S/Sgt Rod Thompson
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

Update on the motor vehicle collision that occurred at the intersection of South Boundary Rd SE and 13th Avenue SE on August 4, 2021, at approximately 1:52 PM:

A Volkswagen Beetle was driving northbound on 13th Ave SE, failed to stop at the stop sign at South Boundary Rd SE. The Beetle proceeded into the intersection and into the path of a westbound Kia Sportage causing extensive damage to both vehicles.

The driver and passenger of the Kia Sportage were transported to the hospital by EMS for assessment. The driver of the Beetle was assessed and released on scene by EMS.

Media Contact:

Sgt. Gerald Sadlemyer
Traffic Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8471

Update: Emotionally Disturbed person with weapon

MHPS is reporting that the high risk incident involving the subject on the 700 9 St SE has been resolved. The subject has been taken into custody with assistance from the Crisis Negotiator Unit, Patrols as well as on duty members of the Tactical Unit. No injuries were sustained by the subject or responding officers. The subject has been taken for assessment to Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. MHPS would like to thank the public for their patience during the temporary shutdown of traffic in this area.

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) was recently notified that the Service’s phone number was "spoofed" and being used fraudulently to coerce a local resident into providing money into a Bitcoin account.

Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. This way the number shows up as one you may already know and trust. If you answer, they use scam scripts to try to steal your money or valuable personal information, which can be used in fraudulent activity*.

In this instance, the persons spoofed a MHPS phone number and identified themselves as a police officer. The scammer advised the resident that their Social Insurance Number had been compromised. The person then advised the victim to withdraw money from their real bank account and purchase Bitcoin at a local vendor and deposit it into a provided account.

This is similar to other frauds where persons identify themselves as employees of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). As a reminder, neither the MHPS or CRA would ask you for your money over the phone, especially in the form of bitcoin, pre-paid credit cards, or pre-paid gaming cards. Anyone who may have been the victim of fraud is asked to contact the MHPS or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Some additional tips:

• If you answer the phone and the caller, or a recording, asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
• Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately.
• Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with "Yes" or "No."
• Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Insurance Numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.
• If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company's or government agency's website to verify the authenticity of the request.

More information on common frauds and scam can be found on the MHPS website (mhps.ca or click here )

Media Contact:

Sgt. Adam Gregory
Medicine Hat Police Service
Community Support Unit
Ph: 403-529-8451

*Information from the Federal Communications Commission: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id