Olds RCMP has made its first major counterattack against identity theft crimes in the region since new federal legislation was enacted two years ago, with the recent arrest of two individuals late last month.
In that bust, police seized large amounts of hotel guest registration records and receipts, which they believe were illegally obtained to steal identities for the purpose of committing fraud.
“These guest records had individuals' names, addresses and other personal information,” said Olds RCMP Cpl. Troy Byrt, adding he believes this is the first arrest in the Olds area specific to identity theft since new federal laws were passed in 2010. “Speaking from my own personal experience this is the first time I have seen this charge laid.”
The laying of the identity theft charges arose from a shoplifting complaint the RCMP received from 360 Snow and Skate at about 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 24.
Byrt said an on-duty Olds RCMP officer was in the immediate area of the business at the time of the complaint and observed a female suspect walking away from the store and getting into a passing car.
He said police set up a traffic stop and two occupants of the vehicle were arrested.
A search of the vehicle resulted in about $640 worth of stolen clothing from 360 Snow and Skate being recovered along with three purses from reFind clothing & décor, a consignment business. Byrt said the purses had a total value of just under $100. He said police also seized clothing items from Edge Clothing in Red Deer.
However, a further search of the vehicle yielded the discovery of several hotel guest registration records and receipts. Police said they had been stolen from Olds' Circle 5 Motel and the Ramada Inn in Red Deer. Byrt said police also recovered break-in instruments and copper wire.
He said a search warrant was executed for the pair's motel room in Olds which led to the recovery of more hotel guest registration records along with about 30 metres of copper wire and a small quantity of a controlled substance.
Byrt said Olds RCMP have charged 25-year-old Jessica Fedyk of Red Deer with three counts of theft under $5,000 and 17 counts of identity theft, along with charges of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and possession of a controlled substance.
RCMP has also charged 27-year-old Jeffrey Peter Webb of Blackfalds. He is facing 17 counts of identity theft, three counts of theft under $5,000 along with charges of possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of credit card data.
Both accused have made first appearances in Didsbury provincial court. Webb was granted release on $1,000 bail while Fedyk had to pay $500 bail for her release. Webb returns to court on Dec. 3 while Fedyk's next appearance is on Dec. 10.
Byrt said the identity theft charges stem from records that were found in the vehicle, not the ones discovered at the hotel.
“There is the possibility that additional charges could be forthcoming,” he said.
Identity theft provisions in the Canadian Criminal Code have been considered by the federal government since 2007. Bill C-27 was the first proposed identity theft legislation but it died on the order paper when the Tory government prorogued parliament in late 2008.
Bill S-4, which received royal assent in early 2010, created three new Criminal Code offences related to identity theft, including the possession of identity information with intent to use it fraudulently, trafficking in identity information and unlawfully possessing or trafficking in government-issued identity documents that contain information of another person.
All three offences carry five-year maximum prison sentences. In addition, the legislation gives courts the power to order offenders to pay restitution to a victim of identity theft as part of their sentence.
The Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus estimates identity theft costs Canadian consumers, banks and credit card firms, stores and other businesses about $2 billion every year.
