“We’re only just over a month into 2021 and already TRAP teams have made a significant impact in helping to keep the streets of our city a bit safer,” stated EPS Sgt. Ian Strom. “We’re always busy this time of year, especially when the dreaded deep freeze arrives. That’s when citizens sometimes take unnecessary risks by leaving their vehicles idling, often with keys in them.”
In its most recent arrest, at approximately 10 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, Southwest Division Patrol members located a stolen 2005 Toyota Matrix parked in the area of 112 Street and 73 Avenue. The vehicle was stolen from a nearby residence, after it was left idling with the keys in the ignition.
Members of the EPS Targeted Response to Auto-Theft Prevention team (TRAP) were contacted and took over surveillance of the stolen vehicle. Two male suspects eventually entered the vehicle and sped away, before parking in the Blue Quill neighbourhood near 113 Street and 31 Avenue. The two suspects were subsequently arrested and taken into custody by TRAP and Canine Unit members.
Upon arrest, EPS members also discovered that the accused had attempted to discard a backpack that contained B&E tools over a nearby fence and a loaded, sawed-off shotgun under a nearby vehicle.
Dean Carlton, 29 (driver) and Jacob Lien, 24 are facing numerous possession of stolen property, B&E tools, weapons (bear spray), firearm charges and breach of conditions.
So far in 2021, EPS TRAP members have arrested 57 individuals and laid close to 500 charges.
Most incidents are occurring on weekdays during peak commuting times, from Monday to Friday, between 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., while citizens are preparing to travel or stopping on the way to their places of employment. Thefts of idling vehicles have also been reported to EPS involving food delivery services. Delivery drivers have left their vehicles idling and unattended, while picking up or delivering food to customers.
Click here to view the EPS Theft of Idling Vehicle commercial currently being broadcast on Edmonton television stations: https://tinyurl.com/yyzrj72e