RCMP Bust Huge Chop Shop in Athabasca County

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Alberta has uncovered a sophisticated and large-scale “chop shop” operation in Athabasca County, leading to the seizure of millions of dollars worth of stolen vehicles and equipment.

The investigation began on December 29, following a tip from a property owner who had attached a GPS tracking device to their stolen property. The GPS led authorities directly to the rural location where the chop shop was operating.   Staff Sergeant Mark Hall described the scale of the operation as extraordinary, emphasizing the surprising breadth of the criminal enterprise.

When RCMP officers executed a search warrant at the property, they uncovered an elaborate operation designed to prepare stolen vehicles for resale. The inventory included a wide range of vehicles and equipment, pointing to a well-organized criminal network adept at handling diverse stolen goods.

Hall explained why investigators believe the property where the search warrant was executed is a chop shop.

“There were several vehicles there that were stripped down, semi-trucks that looked like they were being repurposed , lots of equipment all over the place,” he said. “The amount of equipment that was found at that property there was definitely overwhelming. Hall added that investigators believe that after going through the property where the items were seized, it appears that the operation had been active for “quite some time.”

“It was definitely eye-opening to find that in our community.”

During the operation, the RCMP recovered an extensive array of stolen items, including two semi-trucks, six semi-trailers, off-road vehicles, holiday trailers, and various pieces of heavy equipment.  Staff Sgt. Hall estimated the total value of the recovered goods at several million dollars, emphasizing the economic ramifications of rural crime.

Charges Against Kyle Cushing

36 year old Kyle Cushing, from Athabasca, has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and altering, destroying or removing a vehicle identification number.He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27.

Police are hopeful as they continue their investigation that it will lead to uncovering other operations across the province.

Role of GPS TechnologyThe use of GPS tracking technology was instrumental in this case, allowing the property owner to provide information that enabled the RCMP to locate the chop shop.

Staff Sgt. Hall highlighted the importance of property owners taking proactive measures to protect their assets, particularly high-value items. “Any action from the owners to be able to locate their equipment… it does help police in our ability to find things,” he stated.

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