3 southern Albertan residents charged in connection with theft of copper wire from irrigation equipment

Irrigation equipment was vandalized by 3 people, RCMP say, causing $96,000 in damage.

Three southern Alberta residents face charges in connection with theft, mischief and fleeing from the police.

In May, the RCMP’s Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (SAD CRU) launched an investigation into damages to and theft from oil and gas and agriculture infrastructure that took place in a several locations in southeastern Alberta, including Lethbridge County, the Municipal District of Taber and Newell County, where police say copper wire was targeted by suspects.

On May 29, SAD CRU officers, RCMP dogs and Brooks RCMP officers say they watched the suspects stealing irrigation equipment from a property near Vauxhall.

Police say the suspects fled the area in two vehicles, one of which got stuck in a potato crop field. One man was arrested who police say was in possession of a large amount of copper wire.

The second vehicle fled down rural highways and back roads until it was eventually stopped using a tire deflation device, leading to the arrest of a man and woman who were also in possession of stolen copper wire.

Further investigation led police to confirm the suspects were involved in other thefts and trafficking in stolen property across southern Alberta.

Police say the cost to repair the damages from the May 28 incident will be more than $96,000 on their irrigation property. Furthermore, damaged irrigation pivots leads to reduced crops and even possibly crop failure.

According to the Agriculture Financial Services Corp., the possible revenue for a quarter section field, which is 130 acres, ranges in value in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A 27-year-man from Lethbridge resident faces two counts of mischief over $5,000, two counts of theft over $5,000 and a single count of trafficking in property obtained by crime.

A 34-year-old man from Raymond faces a single count of mischief over $5,000, two counts of theft over $5,000, two counts of trafficking in property obtained by crime, flight from a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.

A second Raymond resident, a 24-year-old woman, who is a resident of Raymond was charged with mischief over $5,000 and theft over $5,000.

All three suspects were released after bail hearings. They were scheduled to appear in court on June 23 but it was subsequently adjourned to July 14 in Taber.