Just this past week alone, another 55 new occurrences were reported to police. Early Thursday morning, (Jan. 2), West Division patrol officers responded to a theft of vehicle call in progress near 94 Avenue and 152 Street.
Police Service Dog “Bady” was subsequently deployed, and was able to establish a track to the rear of a nearby residence at 93 Avenue and 148 Street. Officers and PSD Bady located a male suspect coming out from under a motorhome. Arnold Boutin, 27, was taken into custody and charged with mischief (x2), possession of B&E tools, possession of a controlled substance.
Over the Christmas holidays, EPS members also arrested a trio of prolific property crime suspects following a pair of catalytic converter thefts on Dec. 29, 2019.
Kristopher Peter, 37, Vassilios Plougaris, 55, and Mark Johnston, 32, were followed to Leduc where they were witnessed cutting off the catalytic converter of a F-350 in a residential neighborhood. Another catalytic converter from a motor home was also located inside the suspect vehicle, during a vehicle stop upon their return to Edmonton.
The most common vehicles being targeted for catalytic converter thefts are SUVs –Honda & Hyundai, vans such as Ford E-Series, and Ford F-Series trucks. A total of 35 per cent of incidents occurred overnight involving vehicles parked predominantly in commercial parking lots, followed by residential (apartment) parking lots.
Anyone with information regarding catalytic converter thefts or the suspects associated to these crimes is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250