Calgary home renovator charged with theft, fraud related offences
Posted Oct 6, 2022 3:58 pm.
Last Updated Oct 13, 2022 12:40 pm.
A Calgary home renovator is facing 21 charges related to fraud and theft, with police claiming he fooled homeowners around the city,
Officers allege that throughout August this year, four homes were targeted by a 34-year-old, after he was hired to complete home improvement projects for each of the owners.
Investigators say the suspect, who has been identified as Jia Wei Liang, who goes by Ben Liang, gained the trust of the home owners by offering renovation services through his company, Innovative Renovations LTD., also known as Innovation Renovations LTD.
While the victims were away from their homes, police claim the suspect “forcefully” entered each residence. The owners, in turn, reported several missing items, including electronics, tablets, and various accessories.
Officers say they got search warrants for a home in the Huntington Hills area in the northeast, where property belonging to all four alleged victims were found. In addition to these items, police seized other pieces believed to be stolen in other cases. The items include things like phones, jewelry, watches, and keys.
Police have shared photos of the items, asking anyone who believes they are the owners to contact investigators by calling the non-emergency line.
“We are thankful the victims came forward to report the incidents to police and that we were able to return several of the stolen items to the rightful owners,” said Staff-Sgt. Colin Chisholm of the Calgary Police Service General Investigations Unit.
“If citizens believe they have been victimized in a similar way, we encourage them to report it to police, for two reasons. First, we hope to one day recover and return items to their rightful owners. Secondly, we can’t lay charges in relation to stolen property unless we have a corresponding report to identify a victim,” Chisholm said.
Police have charged Liang with 21 counts related to break and enter, possession of stolen property under $5,000, fraud, and possession of a firearm. He is set to appear in court on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
CPS says reports of stolen property can be filed online, at any district office, or by calling the non-emergency line.
Anyone with information about these incidents or who believes they may have been a victim of a similar incident is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or leave a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
