At least three locations from Airdrie to Banff have been hit by a man who is believed to have stolen personal identification and credit cards between Nov. 19 and Nov. 21.
According to RCMP, the locations that have been targeted are recreation centres and the suspects entered unlocked dressing rooms at the facilities and stole the cards.
On Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m., a man entered a dressing room at the Ron Ebbesen Arena in Airdrie and stole the keys to a car. He used the keys to gain access to the victim’s vehicle before stealing credit cards and identification.
He attempted to purchase four prepaid Visa cards worth $250 each by using the stolen credit cards at an Airdrie Shoppers Drug Mart, but was unsuccessful as he did not know the security PIN.
On Nov. 21 at around 8:30 p.m., Banff RCMP received a theft complaint from the Banff Recreation Centre, located on the 100 block of Mount Norquay Road.
Some time between 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. an unknown number of suspects entered an unlocked dressing room in the hockey arena and stole victims’ identification and credit cards.
Subsequent investigation by Banff RCMP revealed the victim’s credit card was used in Canmore a short time after it was stolen to purchase gift cards.
Canmore RCMP then received a number of complaints from patrons of the Canmore Recreation Centre, who reported having their credit cards stolen from an unlocked dressing room.
Airdrie RCMP Staff Sgt. Gordon Sage said that the crimes are linked and it is believed to be the same suspect involved in each incident.
“We have reached out to Banff RCMP to share information and intelligence,” said Sage. “This is what we have to do when you have a criminal who is travelling around and preying on different jurisdictions.”
The credit cards were used at a number of businesses in Canmore. The same suspect is believed to be involved in all three incidents in Airdrie, Banff and Canmore.
He has been observed by surveillance cameras in both Canmore and Airdrie.
The suspect is described as around 30 years old, Caucasian, approximately 5’ 10’’ to six-feet tall with a heavy build. He has short, light-coloured hair.
Sage says the media is one of the RCMP’s greatest allies when trying to identify a criminal who has hit a number of different cities.
“The media is able to educate a widespread group of people,” he said. “We rely a lot on them to get the evidence out there, that’s where our strongest success comes from, is the media educating the masses. We can put our local area stores on alert but we can’t phone every single store in every community to warn them, so the media is a great asset.”
Break and enter
Strathmore RCMP is seeking the assistance of the public to locate suspects who are considered armed and dangerous.
On Nov. 22 at 11:45 a.m., Strathmore RCMP officers were dispatched to a break-and-enter at a rural residence in the Strathmore Detachment area.
Suspects entered the residence and threatened the occupants and stole a number of items from the home before leaving. There were three adults in the home at the time of the break in.
The occupants were unharmed and the suspects were believed to have fled the scene in a black 2005 Dodge Caravan, Alberta license plate KNA 486.
Police don’t believe that the suspects have any connection to the victims.
“We haven’t uncovered any kind of relation between the suspects and victims,” said Strathmore RCMP Staff Sgt. Kevin Reilly. “Right now, it looks to be a random act.”
Anyone who sees the vehicle in question or has information on it is being asked to contact their local police immediately. RCMP are advising not to approach the vehicle as the suspects are considered to be armed and dangerous, the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information on any unsolved crime can contact their local RCMP.
