Attempted retail fraud results in multiple charges

Edmonton police collaborated with Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police to arrest four people involved in an alleged extortion scheme.

Police have laid almost 50 charges against two suspects after a store employee reported a fraud in-progress on Edmonton’s northeast side.

On Tuesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. officers responded to a call from a retail store in the area of 155 Avenue and 37 Street. Police officials say that a store employee was assisting a customer with a retail credit card application when they were alerted over the phone by the credit card company that the identification provided was stolen.

While the employee was still on the phone, the suspect advised he was going out to his vehicle – at which time police were called.

Officials say that upon arrival, a female driver attempted to flee with the male suspect inside the vehicle.

Police, who were able to apprehend both Trent Derek Thompson, 29, and Samantha Rae Bremner, 30, found numerous stolen credit cards, government issued indemnification cards, break-and-enter tools and counterfeiting stamps inside the vehicle.

The pair have been charged with multiple offences including possession of a controlled substance and possession of stolen property under $5,000. Bremner was also charged with three counts of breach of recognizance and failure to comply with a probation order.