SUNDRE - Two Red Deer men already under court-imposed conditions were arrested north of Sundre recently and face break and enter charges.
“In this instance, our proactive patrols were successful in apprehending two unscrupulous suspected copper thieves that attempted to take advantage of Sundre area citizens complying with stay -at-home measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within our communities to help keep us all healthy and safe,” said RCMP Cpl. Joe Mandel in a press release issued today.
A 32-year-old male and 40-year-old male, who police have not named, were detained at a compressor site off Crammond Road, approximately 30 kilometres north of Sundre on March 26.
Sundre RCMP were conducting early morning patrols in the area last Thursday when police say they located fresh footprints in the snow leading to "a stash" of several spools of copper wire just off of the road in a ditch.
Mandel said police seized the copper spools and continued to patrol the area.
They reportedly came across fresh vehicle tracks going down a lease road that led through an open gate to a gas compressor site.
Police followed the vehicle tracks to the compressor site, found a pickup truck and initiated a traffic stop.
“The two male passengers were detained and police located break-in tools and suspected methamphetamine in their possession,” Mandel said.
Both Red Deer men were on court-imposed conditions for other criminal matters at the time, Mandel added.
They have been charged with break and enter and breaching conditions of their release.
Both males are set to appear in Didsbury provincial court at a later date to speak to the allegations.
"The Sundre RCMP members continue to serve our community as we go through this world health crisis," Mandel said, adding the detachment "applauds each and every one of you that continue to make sacrifices, big and small, as we tackle this pandemic together."
