Photo courtesy of ALERT

By Chris Brown

Medicine Hat

ALERT unit recovers close to $1M worth of stolen property

Aug 18, 2021 | 7:01 AM

Two Medicine Hat men have been charged after nearly $1 million in stolen property was recovered, including 13 holiday travel trailers.

Many of the recovered trailers and campers were stolen in the Medicine Hat area.

ALERT’s Southeast Alberta Property Crime unit alleges the two men charged were involved in the thefts, and fraudulently re-vinned the trailers before they were re-sold. A search of one of the suspect’s homes yielded materials for making fraudulent VIN stickers.

“This was a complex, coordinated scheme that undoubtedly ruined many family’s summer vacation plans. However, the impact of organized crime extends beyond the victim, and is a cost that society collectively bears,” said ALERT CEO Supt. Dwayne Lakusta in a release.

The thefts date back to December 2020.

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The three-month investigation was led by ALERT, with assistance from Service Alberta, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Medicine Hat Police, and various RCMP detachments.

The other stolen property recovered includes a sports car, recreational vehicles, motorbikes, tools and various vehicle parts. The total value is estimated to be $970,000.

Nathan Herter, 36, was arrested in Medicine Hat on June 18 and is charged with theft over $5,000, possession of break and enter tools, suspended driving, and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Mathew Hillier, 36, was arrested in Hope, B.C. on June 29 is and charged with theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property.

ALERT continues to investigate and is not ruling out additional charges.

To date, ALERT has recovered:

• Elevation trailer stolen in Redcliff and recovered in Sylvan Lake;
• Keystone camper stolen in Dunmore and recovered in Lacombe County;
• Reflection camper stolen in Lacombe and recovered in Hope, BC;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Hope, BC;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Redcliff and recovered in Hope, BC;
• Keystone camper stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Tompkins, Sask.;
• Jayco camper stolen in Red Deer and recovered in Cypress County;
• Keystone trailer stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Langdon;
• Dutchman trailer stolen in Dunmore and recovered in Kelowna;
• Keystone camper stolen in Strathmore and recovered in County of Forty Mile;
• Sunvalley camper stolen in Lethbridge and recovered in Kelowna;
• Palamino trailer stolen in Regina, Sask. And recovered in Cypress County;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Lacombe and recovered in Brock, Sask.;
• Cargo trailer stolen in Drumheller and recovered in Brock, Sask;
• Keystone trailer stolen in Swift Current, Sask. and recovered in Calgary;
• Keystone camper stolen in Lacombe and recovered in Brock, Sask; and
• Mirage trailer stolen in Medicine Hat and recovered in Brock, Sask.

A number of trailers were purchased at steep discounts, and already in the possession of a third-party.

ALERT believes there are still numerous stolen trailers outstanding and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone who thinks they may have unknowingly purchased a stolen trailer can contact ALERT’s Southeast Alberta Regional Property Crime unit at 403-529-8481.