“Auto theft continues to be one of the most prevalent property crimes in our city,” said Staff Sgt. Sid Kingma, of the EPS Economic Crimes Unit. “Our Targeted Response to Auto Theft Prevention (TRAP) team members are working hard to stay one step ahead of the criminal element responsible for these crimes.”
In just the first three months of 2018, TRAP members have arrested and charged 56 suspects with auto-theft related offences and recovered 68 stolen vehicles valued at approximately $968,000.
“Our TRAP team members are without question, making a dent in this crime throughout the Edmonton area,” says Staff Sgt. Kingma. “We urge all citizens of Edmonton to lock up their vehicles and secure their keys in an effort to reduce auto crime.”
Most recently, TRAP team members made a pair of significant catches, arresting and charging two prolific auto theft offenders.
On Wednesday, March 28, 2018, TRAP members arrested and charged Brett Rasmussen, 33, who was taken into custody without incident, after exiting a stolen 2005 Ford F350 near 122 Street and 44 Avenue in southwest Edmonton. The vehicle was listed as stolen on March 20, 2018, out of Nisku. The licence plate was also stolen from a different vehicle in Edmonton.
A search of the truck revealed the ignition had been tampered with and was capable of starting without a key. The subsequent search of the accused’s backpack found in the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a Beretta .22 cal. pistol with a 10 round magazine, stolen from a residence in Lac La Biche.
A quantity of methamphetamine and an array of B&E tools including gloves, flashlights, screwdrivers and files were also discovered in the backpack.
Rassmussen is facing 15 charges related to restricted firearms, possession of drugs, auto theft, criminal flight and outstanding warrants.
On Tuesday, Mar. 27, 2018 at approximately 12 p.m., while working proactively in the area of 82 Street and 122 Avenue, TRAP team members located a vehicle that had been reported stolen on Mar. 11, 2018 and arrested the driver, Walter Henry, 41.
A search of the accused revealed a knife, and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a working scale, small bags commonly used in the drug trade, a quantity of suspected hashish, methamphetamine, cannabis, shatter, and approximately 30 lbs. of copper wire that is believed to have been stolen. The vehicle’s dashboard VIN was also found to be concealed, and a query of the VIN confirmed the vehicle had also been reported stolen during a break-and-enter in Fort Saskatchewan on Mar. 2, 2018.
Henry, 41, is charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000 (x3), fraudulent concealment, possession (of a controlled substance) for the purpose of trafficking (x3), possession of a prohibited weapon and breach of recognizance (x4).
The TRAP team is a specialized unit specifically targeting prolific auto thieves, many of whom use stolen vehicles in other crimes, such as break-and-enters, robberies and home invasions. TRAP launched in March 2017, and between March and December 2017, the team recovered 221 stolen vehicles, made 187 arrests and laid 931 charges.