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The Medicine Hat ALERT Regional Property Crime Unit has carried out an investigation into thefts. (Pixabay/Pexels)

Property crime unit rounds up suspects who stole Ram truck, cowboy chaps and ‘western gear’

Dec 7, 2023 | 2:56 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A man and woman from Medicine Hat have been charged with several offences over stolen property, police said Thursday.

The Medicine Hat ALERT Regional Property Crime Unit, known as RPCU, launched an investigation in early November following a series of thefts.

With help from the Medicine Hat Police Service, a 24-year-old man was discovered operating a stolen vehicle parked in the southwest area of the city and arrested, according to police.

He was charged with one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000, three counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and a count of fleeing police.

A 21-year-old woman was arrested a short time later.

She was charged with one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000, three counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000, four counts of possession of I.D. documents and failing to comply with a release order.

A search warrant was executed at a residence in the 300 block of 4th Street NW, resulting in the seizure of items associated to numerous break-ins and thefts in Medicine Hat, Cypress County, and the Elkwater area.

A 2006 Ram 3500 truck, custom cowboy chaps, rope and western gear were all recovered as part of the RPCU operation.

Multiple pieces of stolen identification, assorted tools and a rural crime watch road sign were also recovered.

Some of these investigations are still ongoing and efforts are being made to return the stolen property to the rightful owners, RPCU said.

The man was held in custody and the woman was released subject to conditions.

Both are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 12.