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
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.
BREAKING Teen dies after being hit by train in N.W. Calgary
A teenager has died after being hit by a train in northwest Calgary on Tuesday afternoon.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.
'It's his vacation too': Jimmy the baby goat joins 2-week road trip across Canada
After Jimmy the baby goat was shunned by his mother, a New Brunswick man took the kid on a two-week road trip across Canada.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
Widespread theft costing Canada's retail industry dearly: experts
The Retail Council of Canada wants to put a stop to widespread theft within the retail industry, and industry leaders are meeting this week to find solutions.
Former South Dakota mayor charged with triple homicide
Three people were shot to death in a small South Dakota town, and a former law officer who once served as the town's mayor is charged in the killings.
Debunking the 'anti-sunscreen' movement: Doctors say TikTok trend is dangerous
Dermatologists are sounding the alarm about misinformation from the anti-sunscreen movement, saying not wearing sunscreen can cause cancer and other problems.