2 charged connected to Canmore bike theft and fraud investigation
Two men from Calgary are facing charges after eagle-eyes RCMP officers in Canmore recognized them as subjects of a months-long investigation into bike thefts and frauds.
Police were alerted about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday about a man trying to use a fraudulent credit card at a business in the mountain community west of Calgary.
When officers arrived, they recognized two men in the area. Both were arrested and a vehicle was seized.
A search warrant was obtained for the car and officers located:
- Numerous counterfeit credit cards;
- Identity documents;
- Break-in instruments;
- Instruments to forge licence plates, and;
- Other property which was obtained by crime.
Melody Velasquez, 37, is facing 21 charges, including:
- Three counts of use of a forged document;
- Two counts of possession of stolen property;
- Fraudulent use of a credit card;
- Possession of break-in instruments;
- Four counts of identity theft;
- Unauthorized possession of a weapon;
- Four counts of theft under $5,000, and;
- Mischief under $5,000.
Velasquez was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on June 29.
Elmer Collo, 43, is charged with eight offences, including:
- Two counts of use of a forged document;
- Possession of stolen property;
- Fraudulent use of a credit card, and;
- Possession of break-in instrument.
Collo was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on June 28.
Canmore RCMP issued a warning to cyclistsearlier this week after several mid to high-end mountain bikes had been reported stolen.
RCMP also provided a number of tips for preventing bicycle thefts, including:
- Store bicycles indoors if possible;
- Use heavy duty bike locks that are difficult to cut;
- Take detailed photos of your bicycles and record the serial/part numbers, as it may assist with the recovery of your property;
- Monitor online resale websites/forums such as Kijiji, eBay, Facebook Buy and Sell, etc., for your recently stolen bicycle and notify police if observed;
- If using parkades or entrances to communal residences, please ensure those entering said facilities are allowed to be there as suspects are currently following patrons inside to gain access to underground parkades;
- If suspicious activity is noted, try to acquire a detailed description of the person(s) (ie: height, weight, gender, race, clothing description) or a vehicle(s) in question (ie: colour, make , model, licence plate, # of occupants), and;
- Whether a home owner or business property representative, please ensure your surveillance systems are in working order to assist victims and police with potential evidence collection.
Officers will also be increasing patrols and visibility in areas where bike thefts have been reported.
Anyone with information is asked to call Canmore RCMP at 403-678-5519 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.