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Some of the copper wire recovered by RCMP. (Southern Alberta RCMP)
Stolen Wire

800 lbs of stolen copper wire from Southern Alberta sites seized by RCMP

May 26, 2020 | 10:48 AM

A substantial amount of stolen copper wire has been recovered by the RCMP Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit.

They had been investigating the thefts for about two months as oil and gas sites throughout the region reported that their copper wires had been taken.

Officers discovered that they were being sold to a metal recycling business in Calgary.

A search warrant was executed at a home in northwest Calgary.

“As a result of the search warrant, police seized over 800 pounds of stolen copper wire, a stolen quad, and a breathing apparatus from an oil site,” reads a media release from RCMP.

Adam Reginald Spare, 55, David Gregory Mitchell, 33, and Travis William Kowalkchuck, 31, face several charges.

All three are jointly are accused of trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000, Possession of property obtained by crimes for the purpose of trafficking, and two counts of possession of property obtained by crimes under $5,000.

As well, Mitchell is charged with six counts of break and enter to commit theft, Spare is charged with five counts of this, and Kowalkchuk has one charge.

The trio was released on a no-cash bail and are scheduled to appear in court on July 10.