Ponoka RCMP say they caught “copper wire bandits red-handed” during a traffic stop in the early morning on Dec. 3 and two men are now facing criminal charges.
At about 4:08 a.m. that morning, a break and enter to an oilfield lease site was reported to the Ponoka RCMP, according to a news release.
Responding members made patrols, locating and stopping the suspect vehicle on Hwy. 2A.
With the assistance of members from Maskwacis RCMP, two male occupants of the vehicle were arrested and taken into custody without incident.
A search of the vehicle lead to the recovery and seizure of 75 feet of stolen copper wire, and break-in instruments.
Daryl S. Springer, 41, and Adam Reginald Spare, 56, both of Red Deer are each facing four criminal charges: breaking and entering and committing theft to a business, possession of break-in instruments, possession of stolen property and failure to comply with a release order and/or an undertaking condition.
Springer was released from custody and is scheduled to attend court on Jan. 8, 2021. Spare remains in custody with his next court appearance scheduled for Dec. 11, 2020.
“This outcome was as a result of a collaborative effort between the RCMP and the security company that provides services to the business,” said Sgt. Erin St-Cyr of the Ponoka RCMP.
“The information provided by the security company enabled the RCMP member on the road to intercept the suspect vehicle within minutes of the suspects departing the scene of the crime.”