Multiple RCMP and police detachments' collaboration led to the recent arrest of a Calgary male suspected of multiple break-and-enters and thefts from residences in Rocky View County and Foothills County earlier this year.
Cochrane RCMP's Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), along with assistance from Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit, investigated a series of high-end residential break-and-enters in Rocky View County and Foothills County over a three-month period, culminating in the seizure of contraband and arrest of an individual.
On Nov 16, Cochrane CRU members executed a search warrant at a Calgary residence. Two days later, a second search warrant was executed at a storage locker in Calgary.
As a result of the search warrants, RCMP seized an assortment of property believed to have been stolen, including over $200,000 worth of jewellery, identity documents, credit cards, and passports. The search warrant also rendered the seizure of five firearms, ammunition, watches, designer clothing, bags, a Ducati motorcycle, a stolen Ford F-150 vehicle, and a white Audi Q5 that was believed to have been used in the break-and-enters.
Following the investigation, 35-year-old Matthew Grouette, a resident of Calgary, was charged with various charges, including five counts of break-and-enter and theft, possession of stolen property obtained by crime over $5,000, unauthorized possession of a firearm, three counts of breaching probation, and unsafe storage of a firearm.
Grouette was remanded into custody and will be appearing in Cochrane Provincial court on Nov. 29.
According to RCMP, the investigation began last summer, when Cochrane RCMP officers were dispatched to a break-and-enter in progress in Rocky View County on Aug. 11.
"During this break-and-enter, the home-owners' truck and a large quantity of jewellery was stolen," the RCMP stated in a press release. "A few months later, a male, believed to be the accused, purchased a vehicle with a cheque that had been stolen from that residence."
Two months later on Oct. 15, Cochrane RCMP investigated another break-and-enter of a residence in Rocky View County, where suspects stole a large quantity of cash and many expensive pieces of jewellery.
"Video surveillance at this residence showed the suspects and the vehicle they were travelling in," RCMP's release stated.
Just five days later, Turner Valley RCMP investigated a break-and-enter of a residence in Foothills County, where the suspect had kicked in the garage side door. Suspects stole a large quantity of jewellery and a safe with a quantity of money inside.
"Again, video showed the suspects and their vehicle," the release stated.
The same suspects were then caught on surveillance camera performing similar break-and-enters at Rocky View County houses on Oct. 23 and Nov. 3, as well as in Foothills County on Nov. 9 and 15.
"Many pieces of valuable jewellery were stolen," the Cochrane RCMP said of the Nov. 15 incident, adding that later that day, police received multiple reports of two suspicious males prowling residences in the early morning hours, in the same area of the previous break-and-enter.
"One of the males was caught on video surveillance and was identified as Grouette by an officer."
Cochrane RCMP concluded their press release by stating the charges faced by Grouette highlight the value of high-quality video surveillance and effective inter-detachment collaboration between Cochrane and Turner Valley RCMP, as well as the Calgary Police Service and Southern Alberta District RCMP.
