Three people have been arrested after Edmonton police say stolen rescue tools were used to steal upwards of $1 million in goods from various Edmonton businesses. In November and December, rescue tools were taken from firehalls in Water Valley and Calahoo. The stolen tools are valued at approximately $110,000. From Dec. 1 to Jan. 8, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) received 18 reports of break-and-enters at businesses in Edmonton, 14 of which involved the stolen rescue tools. Ten break-and-enters were reported in southwest Edmonton, five in southeast Edmonton, two in northeast Edmonton, and one in Sherwood Park. The businesses ranged from convenience stores to bars to high-end clothing stores, according to police, and the owners did not know each other. At a news conference on Thursday, EPS Staff Sgt. Travis Kerr said investigators determined early on that an unusual kind of tool was being used in the break-and-enters. “They’re not just run of the mill pry bar or something like that. So it became obvious quite quickly that there was a unique tool being used right from the first couple of b-and-e’s that we investigated,” Kerr said. “I’m not an expert on how to use the equipment, but their normal use is to be able to extract people, primarily from vehicles when they’re trapped, or other places when conventional methods don’t work. So they’re quite effective at getting into places that you otherwise couldn’t with conventional tools.” In total, police say $750,000 to $1 million in property was stolen, including high-end bags and jackets, cannabis and vape products, and cash from ATMs and safes. In late January police arrested a 30 and 42-year-old man in connection with the thefts and a 47-year-old man was arrested earlier this month. The three men are facing over 200 charges combined, including 35 counts of break-and-enter to commit theft, 35 counts of disguise with intent, and 42 counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000. “I’ve never seen something like this in my career. This is a first and hopefully a last,” Kerr told reporters. “This investigation highlights how a small group of prolific offenders can have a significant and far reaching impact on our communities in their pursuit of quick financial gain,” Staff Sgt. Darcy McGunigal of Morinville RCMP said. “These individuals showed little regard for the safety and well being of others. As demonstrated in this case, they were prepared to steal life saving equipment relied on by our first responders to protect and rescue those in need.” Kerr said two of the suspects are known to police, while the third did not have an extensive criminal history. Court dates for the three men have not yet been set. Calahoo’s fire chief reacts to recovery of tools “We’re all happy that we have the tools back. It was really through the great work of EPS and working with RCMP in our area,” Sturgeon County Fire Chief Chad Moore, who oversees the Calahoo firehall, told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday. “It was in the early morning of Dec. 22, several individuals broke into the Calahoo fire station and took them directly off the truck and we discovered they were gone that same day,” he said. Moore says the equipment would have been difficult to replace. “This equipment is used for all of our motor vehicle collisions, highway rescues, and we do use them on a regular basis.” “The value of these tools was $60,000 and as for new tools and newer models like these, the price tag for these can reach even up to $120,000.” He says it’s unfortunate the tools were used to commit crimes. “To see them used for the break-and-enters is really disappointing. We’re happy that they’re back and can be used for their intended purpose.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson
