Asset 1ALERT-Wide-White

UPDATE: Charges laid in lengthy Camrose stolen property investigation

UPDATE: Charges laid in lengthy Camrose stolen property investigation

Camrose… Charges have been laid against four people for their alleged involvement in a lengthy stolen property investigation. Nearly 90 stolen vehicles, trailers, farming equipment, and other machinery had previously been seized.

 

Charges were laid on May 15, 2024, bringing the nearly three-year ALERT Auto Crimes unit investigation to a close. Known as Operation Elephant, the investigation began in 2021 following tips received from the public.

 

Original news release: https://alert-ab.ca/update-extensive-stolen-property-recovered-in-camrose/

 

ALERT estimates that the stolen property recovered has an estimated value of $3.1 million. Most of the stolen property has been returned to its rightful owners.

 

“This investigation shows that not all organized crime involves guns and drugs. High value property crimes not only impact the victims of the theft, but all of Albertans through increased insurance rates,” said Chief Dean LaGrange, Camrose Police Service.

 

ALERT first provided information about the case in December 2022 when 17 search warrants were being executed. Most of the search warrants took place in the Camrose area.

 

Following the search warrants and seizures, ALERT undertook the laborious process of analyzing the more than 100 pieces of stolen property, and worked to prepare the required documents and disclosure.

 

“Stolen farm equipment, machinery, and recreational vehicles can be incredible losses which shakes the perception of safety in rural communities.  Although many of the recovered stolen items were returned, there’s still significant impact and costs incurred,” said Insp. Angela Kemp, ALERT Edmonton.

 

ALERT alleges the accused were involved in acquiring the stolen property for use in their business interests, which included farming and equipment rentals.

 

The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, working in conjunction with ALERT, has also criminally restrained nine residential and commercial properties.

 

Four people have been charged:

  • Gaye Turnbull, 70, is charged with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking in property obtained by crime, conspiracy to traffic in property obtained by crime, laundering proceeds of crime, tampering with a vehicle identification number, and attempt to possess property obtained by crime;
  • Jeffrey Roblin, 37, is charged with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking in property obtained by crime, conspiracy to traffic in property obtained by crime, laundering proceeds of crime, tampering with a vehicle identification number, and attempt to possess property obtained by crime;
  • Trevor Turnbull, 44, is charged with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking in property obtained by crime, and laundering proceeds of crime;
  • Kenneth Wipp, 53, is charged with public mischief, perjury, attempted fraud, possession of property obtained by crime, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

 

The four accused were released from custody to await their next scheduled court appearance on June 12, 2024 in Camrose.

 

Operation Elephant involved the assistance of a number of partner agencies, including Camrose Police, Edmonton Police, Calgary Police, Équité Association, Vin Verification Services Corporation, Service Alberta Special Investigations unit, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), and RCMP detachments St. Paul, Wetaskiwin, Ponoka, Rimbey, Strathcona County, St. Albert, Fort Saskatchewan, Killam, and several in F-Division, including Cut Knife.

 

Members of the public who suspect organized auto theft and vehicle revinning can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.

 

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.

Since 2022, CISA has been guided by four pillars that focus the effort to promote an integrated, intelligence-led approach to combating organized crime; these are:

  • Building Relationships with Stakeholders;
  • Promote Intel Sharing Across the Province;
  • Being Proactive and Identify Emerging Trends; and
  • Investing in Our People Through Training and Development

 

Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta (CISA) has recently developed an Alberta Firearms Intelligence Centre (AFIC) to equitably expand access to firearms intelligence for all law enforcement agencies within Alberta. AFIC will provide timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence to law enforcement agencies and policy-makers to achieve the shared and collaborative goals of increasing public safety concerning firearm-related crimes.

Protecting Kids Online | Internet Child Exploitation

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

FILE INTAKES

680

872

1,149

1,114

3,815

2,994

2,764

SUSPECTS CHARGED

22

16

34

37

109

81

125

CHARGES LAID

87

45

123

160

415

351

413

CHILDREN RESCUED

26

78

56

43

203

46

100

EXHIBITS SEIZED

335

368

545

476

1,724

1,243

1,845

TOTAL PHOTOS/VIDEOS

262,400

511,133

1,374,310

606,254

2,754,097

2,551,921

13,260,819

Stopping Human Trafficking | HUMAN TRAFFICKING & COUNTER EXPLOITATION

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

SUSPECTS CHARGED

13

10

7

4

34

30

76

CHARGES LAID

79

46

87

19

231

96

157

VICTIM INTERVENTIONS

30

29

17

37

113

28

22

Intelligence & Expertise | CISA / Training

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

INTELLIGENCE REPORTS

409

296

327

442

1,474

1,560

1,318

TRAINING COURSES

5

3

8

11

27

36

25

CANDIDATES TRAINED

321

56

135

350

862

933

638

Disrupt & Dismantle Organized Crime | Combined Special Forces Enforcement

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

SUSPECTS CHARGED

40

27

42

32

141

197

168

CHARGES LAID

176

156

237

231

800

1,088

820

FIREARMS SEIZED

105

53

26

48

232

102

126

EST. VALUE OF DRUGS SEIZED

$906,814

$553,851

$2,725,161

$1,148,337

$5,334,163

$10,898,269

$334,093,020

PROCEEDS OF CRIME SEIZED

$218,133

$52,970

$130,996

$230,195

$632,294

$1,432,847

$21,740,617

ANNUAL Regional ResultS

ARRESTS

CHARGES

FIREARMS

DRUGS

PROCEEDS

CALGARY

24

110

14

$937,422

$65,881

EDMONTON

17

131

45

$592,839

$272,446

FORT MCMURRAY

8

78

4

$352,942

$144,301

GRANDE PRAIRIE

7

17

13

$192,145

$31,855

LETHBRIDGE

7

29

44

$349,773

$51,245

LLOYDMINSTER

24

93

41

$164,134

$12,504

MEDICINE HAT

37

179

13

$293,108

$7,861

RED DEER

17

163

58

$2,451,800

$46,201

TOTALS

141

800

232

$5,334,163

$632,294

Organized Property Crimes | Auto Crimes

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

SUSPECTS CHARGED

1

1

2

1

10

CHARGES LAID

11

47

STOLEN VEHICLES

23

15

1

6

45

245

118

RECOVERED ASSETS

$1,432,000

$941,025

$108,000

$260,000

$2,741025

$8,420,500

$3,919,500

Firearms investigations | Firearms lab & Gang suPpression teams

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

FIREARMS EXAMINATIONS

349

351

243

235

1,178

EXHIBIT EXAMINATIONS

1,316

1,409

891

1,099

4,715

SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATIONS

31

34

19

24

108

IBIS SUBMISSIONS

343

421

1,334

304

2,402

GUN SEIZURES

1

14

15

SUSPECTS CHARGED

4

22

26

CHARGES LAID

41

144

185

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) involves images and/or videos that depict the sexual abuse of minors – the majority of which involve prepubescent children. Often, CSAM involves explicit and/or extreme sexual assaults against the child victim (Cybertip.ca).

Learn more about Internet Child Exploitation and ALERT’s integrated teams combatting this issue.

Ghost Guns are illegal, privately manufactured firearms or lower receivers. These weapons are often made with 3D-printers, and undermine public safety due to their lack of licensing requirements, serialization and safety controls.

Learn more about Ghost Guns on ALERT’s dedicated Privately Manufactured Firearms info page