In September of 2022, Cochrane RCMP responded to ten break and enters targeting the Gleneagles neighbourhood of Cochrane as well as two armed robberies in Rocky View County, Alta. In the commission of the robberies, firearms were stolen, with one victim being bear sprayed and a firearm pointed at another victim.
Cochrane RCMP Crime Reduction Unit investigated and discovered that the stolen firearms had been trafficked. This led to a search warrant being executed at a Calgary residence on Oct. 28, 2022, and another search warrant being executed on Stoney Nakoda First Nation, Alta. on Nov. 1, 2022.
As a result of the search warrants, over $18,000 in stolen property was recovered, including:
- Stolen firearms
- Ammunition
- 16 stolen credit cards
- 18 stolen identity documents which included driver's licenses, passports and birth certificates.
A total of 37 charges have been laid against four individuals:
A 24-year-old individual, a resident of Calgary, has been charged with:
- Robbery to steal a firearm
- Trafficking a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
A 45-year-old individual, a resident of Calgary, has been charged with four counts of possession of stolen property.
A 26-year-old individual, a resident of Stoney Nakoda First Nation, has been charged with 12 offences, some of which include:
- Robbery with a firearm
- Pointing a firearm
- Break and enter
A 25-year-old individual, a resident of Stoney Nakoda First Nation, has been charged with 18 offences, some of which include:
- Robbery with a firearm
- Break and enter
- Possession of a firearm contrary to a firearm prohibition
The 24-year-old, 26-year-old and the 25-year-old individuals were remanded into custody. The 24-year-old individual will be appearing in Calgary provincial court on Nov. 14, 2022. The 26-year-old individual and the 25-year-old individual will be appearing in Calgary provincial court on Nov. 15, 2022. The 45-year-old individual was released to appear in Calgary provincial court on Nov. 28, 2022.