Suspects prowled cars, used garage door opener to rob SE Calgary home: police

Three Calgarians are facing a laundry list of charges following an investigation into a brazen break-and-enter last weekend.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 9, police say several people were in the Douglasdale neighbourhood going through vehicles when they found a garage door opener.

They used the opener to get access to a garage as well as the home, through an attached door.

According to police, two people went into the home, where its owners and guests were sleeping, and stole a purse, electronics, silver collectible coins, and a Jeep Wrangler.

Police patrolled the community later that day, and found the stolen Jeep abandoned on a residential street.

From there, officers were able to track the suspects to a nearby London Drugs by locating a stolen Acura MDX they were seen travelling in at the time of the crime.

A man and a woman were then arrested in connection to the crime.

Officers have seized a 2014 Jeep Wrangler, a 2009 Acura MDX, stolen property from the break-and-enter, including personal identification documents, a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, two knives, a small amount of crystal meth and suspected fentanyl, a scale, break-in tools, a clown mask, cash, and gift cards, as a result of the investigation.

Zackery Alexander Pyle, 26, of Calgary is facing 31 charges. Those include break and enter, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, possession of methamphetamines and other drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of break-in instruments, possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order, failing to comply with a release order, and mischief to property,

Nikita Shepherd, 24, of Calgary, is facing 10 charges, including break and enter, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition, and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

The pair are scheduled to appear in court next week.

Police also arrested and charged a man who was with Pyle and Shepherd at the time of their arrests.

Justin Robert Pyle, 31, of Calgary, is charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with ammunition, possession of an unauthorized firearm, and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

He is also set to appear in court next week.

Calgary police say the investigation ended the best it could.

“Given the circumstances, this investigation resulted in a best-case scenario where nobody was hurt, charges were laid, stolen property was recovered, and dangerous drugs and weapons were removed from the street,” said District 8 Insp. Darry Midtdal.