Wainwright Canada Post employee charged with theft
Wainwright RCMP, the Eastern Alberta District (EAD) Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), along with Postal Inspectors from Canada Post executed a search warrant on the evening of Nov. 23, 2022, for a residence and vehicle belonging to a Canada Post employee.
A significant seizure of stolen property in excess of 500 deliverable items were recovered.
An employee of Canada Post from Wainwright, Alta. has been arrested and released with undertaking and conditions to appear in Wainwright Provincial Court Jan. 5, 2023. Criminal code charges have not been laid before the provincial court at this time.
The deliverable parcels have been returned to Canada Post for continuation in the delivery process to their intended destination.
Police and Canada Post offer tips to prevent mail theft.
Pick up your mail every day and as soon as possible after it has been delivered.
If you’re planning a holiday or are unable to retrieve your mail, have someone pick up your mail for you or use Canada Post’s Hold Mail service.
Deposit your outgoing mail close to the scheduled pickup time posted on the mailbox.
Avoid mailing cash, prepaid credit cards or gift cards
RCMP in EAD continue to work closely with our partners in Canada Post and other police agencies for this investigation into the offences of theft from mail under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Multiple break and enters
Oyen RCMP responded to a rash of break and enters on Oct. 27, 2022 that occurred throughout the Municipal District of Acadia.
Multiple business’s and residences were entered and property was stolen, including multiple vehicles, ATV’s and a trailer. One of the homes was occupied by the residents at the time of the break in.
During the course of the investigation, an abandoned vehicle was located and seized by police, which contained eight stolen firearms and other property, including a 55 gallon drum of diesel fuel.
Oyen RCMP executed a traffic stop on Highway 41 on Oct. 28, 2022 after receiving reports of a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the highway. As a result of this traffic stop, two suspects were arrested.
Ricky Vidnes (26), a resident of Medicine Hat, has been charged with 18 offences, some of which include break and enters; theft of motor vehicles; theft over $5000 and possession of a weapon obtained by the commission of an offence.
Vidnes was held in custody with a court date of Nov. 25, 2022, in Drumheller Provincial Court.
Jazmine VanTassel (22), a resident of Medicine Hat, has been charged with 18 offences, some of which include the same as above plus theft under $5000.
VanTassell was released on conditions for a court date of Nov. 23, 2022, in Hanna Provincial Court.
A third person was identified through witnesses and video footage. Jeffrey Lawless (37), a resident of Medicine Hat, was charged with eight offences, some of which include break and enter, theft of a motor vehicles, and theft over $5000.
Lawless is currently at large on outstanding warrants.
Oyen RCMP have recovered the following stolen items in relation to this investigation: three vehicles, three trailers, four ATV’s, eight firearms, stolen fuel and tools.
Search warrant executed
For the past several months, Three Hills RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) has been investigating a prolific property crime offender in Kneehill County, Alta.
Three Hills RCMP CRU learned that the male was trafficking stolen property using an online platform. During the investigation, they recovered items and vehicles, including a ride-on lawnmower, a trailer, and an ATV with the VIN destroyed.
These items were identified as stolen from various rural properties within Kneehill County.
Three Hills RCMP CRU also identified other stolen items in conjunction with the investigation such as an SUV, truck, ATV, and stolen licence plates.
On Nov. 23, 2022, Three Hills RCMP executed a search warrant at the residence where the male resides, which resulted in the seizure of electronic devices, weapons and stolen vehicle documents.
Jesse Bulechowsky (41), a resident of Kneehill County, has been charged with the following possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, trafficking of property obtained by crimes under $5000, trafficking of property obtained by crime over $5000, utter forged documents, possession of proceeds of crimes under $5000, possession of property obtained by crimes under $5000, alter/remove or obliterate a VIN, drive while prohibited , and disuse with intent to commit an offence
Following an judicial hearing, Bulechowsky was released from custody to appear in Drumheller Provincial Court on Dec. 16, 2022.
RCMP make arrests
Drumheller General Investigative Section have recovered stolen property, seized weapons, drugs, and laid charges following an investigation into a series of break and enters, including to Canada Post locations in Carbon, Sundre, and Cremona, Alta.
Airdrie RCMP were dispatched to the Petro Canada on Edmonton Trail on Sept. 22, 2022 where it was identified that a verbal altercation occurred. A male retrieved a firearm from a vehicle and pointed it at the victim.
Didsbury RCMP were dispatched to a report of a break and enter to the Cremona Canada Post on Oct. 10 and, an investigation was conducted.
On Oct. 15, 2022, Drumheller RCMP were dispatched to a report of an attempted break and enter of the Carbon Bottle Depot and the theft of a 2019 Ford F150. On Oct. 17, 2022, Calgary Police Service recovered the stolen 2019 Ford F150 in the Falcon Ridge area of Calgary.
On Oct. 23, 2022, Drumheller RCMP were dispatched to a report of a break and enter to the Carbon Canada Post and Carbon Farmers Exchange; in addition, a second attempt of a break and enter to the Carbon Bottle Depot.
On Nov. 16, 2022, Sundre RCMP were dispatched to a report of a break and enter to the Sundre Canada Post.
On Nov. 23, 2022, Drumheller RCMP with the assistance of Calgary Police Service, Calgary Police Tac Team, RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, Federal Serious and Organized Crime, Crime Reduction Intelligence Analyst, Sundre RCMP, a Canada Post Inspector, and Drumheller GIS, executed a warrant in Calgary, where it was believed that items stolen from three of the break and enters were being stored. As a result of the search, police located and seized the following stolen property from the Cremona, Carbon, and Sundre Canada Post break and enters, including a large quantity of stolen mail, clothing and break and enter tools.
Also what is believed to be Methamphetamine and Psilocybin, A black airsoft gun believed to have been used in the commission of an offence and an extendable baton
Matthew Hreczuch (37), and Becca Wood-Stairs (27), both residents of Calgary, have been charged with break and enters, thefts of mail, disguises with intent, and possession of break in instruments.
In addition, Hreczuch was individually charged with the following break and enter, theft of mail, possession of break in instruments , breach of firearms/ weapons prohibition, pointing a firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon and uttering threats.
Hreczuch has three separate court dates in Calgary, Drumheller and Didsbury Provincial Courts.
Wood-Stairs was released from custody on a release order and is scheduled to appear in Didsbury Provincial Court and in Drumheller Provincial Court.
