The Airdrie based Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Team with Calgary Police Service made an arrest yesterday (January 31) following a lengthy investigation into several ATM thefts which have been occurring through December and January in the Calgary region.

48-year-old Guy Stewart of Calgary was arrested yesterday in Calgary by the Calgary Police Service. A search warrant was executed at a residence resulting in the recovery of one of the stolen ATMS.

Stewart has been charged with 40 criminal code offenses, all but one related to ATMs. Corporal Laurel Scott says the thief used the same methods to break into most of the locations.  "He had a vehicle involved in several of them and used the same method.  Sometimes he was able to get the ATM, sometimes he was not.  In the case of Crossfield, he got the ATM."

These charges cleared investigations from several jurisdictions as follows:

Airdrie:

-       break and enter to a business

-       wear a disguise during the commission of an offense

-       fail to comply with conditions of a recognizance (x2)

Crossfield:

-       break and enter to a business and commit theft

-       wear a disguise during the commission of an offense

-       fail to comply with conditions of a recognizance (x2)

Irricana:

-       break and enter to a business

-       wear a disguise during the commission of an offense

-       possession of stolen property over $5,000

-       fail to comply with conditions of a recognizance (x2)

Beiseker:

-       break and enter and theft to a business

-       wear a disguise during the commission of an offense

Three Hills:

-       break and enter and theft to a business

Okotoks:

-       break and enter to a business

-       wear a disguise during the commission of an offense

-       possession of stolen property over $5,000

-       fail to comply with conditions of a recognizance (x2)

-       mischief under $5,000  

Chestermere:

-       break and enter to a business

-       wear a disguise during the commission of an offense

-       possession of stolen property over $5,000

-       fail to comply with conditions of a recognizance (x2)

Strathmore:

-       break and enter to a business and commit theft

-       wear a disguise during the commission of an offense

-       fail to comply with conditions of a recognizance (x2)

High River:

-       operate a motor vehicle while being pursued by a police officer

Calgary:

-       break and enter to a business (x 2)

-       wear a disguise during the commission of an offense (x2)

-       fail to comply with conditions of a recognizance (x4)

Scott says taking a repeat offender off the street like in this case is why the Crime Reduction Teams were formed in the first place.

"That was a vision and that is a vision.  We find that the repeat offenders are responsible for a high number of the crimes that we're investigating.  One man is facing the charges that have at least 10 jurisdictions that these offenses occurred."

A judicial interim release hearing has been held, and Stewart remains in custody.  He is scheduled to appear next in Provincial Court of Alberta in Calgary, on February 6th, 2019.

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