St. Albert RCMP have arrested a St. Albert man and an Edmonton woman after investigating multiple break-ins to storage lockers at a St. Albert-based self-storage facility.
Officers were alerted to the offences on Dec. 6 after a complainant notified the detachment of break-and-enter crimes at a St. Albert storage facility. The investigation revealed suspects used a stolen identity card to rent a storage locker, allowing them easy access to the gate code.
The code was used multiple times between Dec. 4 and 6 to access the facility and break into a number of storage lockers. Suspects stole more than $10,000 worth of items.
On Dec. 11, St. Albert's crime reduction unit traced suspects to a St. Albert residence. Officers with the unit searched Franklin Place and recovered numerous items that had been stolen from the storage facility. They also recovered a shotgun with the serial number filed off, ammunition, methamphetamine and numerious identity documents.
Officers arrested Douglass Poplett, 41, of St. Albert and Christina Cherpak, 32, of Edmonton.
The two face charges of possession of stolen property, identity theft, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and firearm related offences.
Poplett was remanded into police custody and Cherpak was released from custody on cash bail and conditions. Their next court date is Jan. 11 at St. Albert Provincial Court.
St. Albert's crime reduction unit continues to investigate the incident and additional charges are anticipated against a third adult male.
Officers noted the suspects would obtain personal information from unlocked vehicles for the purpose of identity theft. RCMP would like to remind citizens to follow the #9PMRoutine and ensure all valuables are removed from vehicles and doors are locked every night.
