Alberta RCMP recover over $400k in stolen property, including RVs, hot tub

Alberta RCMP in Onoway — an hour west of Edmonton — say they’ve recovered over $400,000 in stolen property.

It started last week when central Alberta RCMP was asked to assist police in Thorsby at a break-and-enter — where police claim the suspect fired shots at a resident who tried to intervene, and a vehicle rammed a police cruiser.

That led to investigators surveilling the suspect and searching three rural properties, where they found stolen items — including these two large RV trailers — properties as well as guns and drugs — three central Alberta men now face multiple charges.

“So the giant trailer behind me, if it doesn’t have a lock on the hitch and you have a fifth wheel hitch, you can just hook on to it and drive away,” said Staff Sgt. Brandon Humbke, with Central Alberta RCMP.

The alleged thieves, also stole a hot tub according to RCMP.

“Yes, a hot tub was stolen — it was a new hot tub stolen from the distributor in Thorsby and was recovered at the Breton property. Not every day that we see a brand new hot tub stolen.”

One of the accused — 38-year-old Justin Handbury — is on what’s called Alberta’s top 100 offender program. A list for law enforcement in Alberta that ranks someone’s negative interactions with police and the severity of their crimes.

“Over an 18-month period will justify their ranking. In this case, Mr. Handbury is the number 57 offender in the province of Alberta this month. Number one would have the highest harm score, meaning they cause the most harm to the communities of Alberta. Mr. Handbury is number 57 — and we rank all the way to 60-thousand depending on what’s going on in the province,” explained Staff Sgt. Luke Hhalvorson, with Alberta RCMP.

That allows police to direct and coordinate more resources on the province’s most dangerous.

“Let’s focus our patrols on where they live or if they’re doing curfew checks or condition compliance checks, let’s prioritize those offenders.”