Surrey RCMP state that two individuals were arrested for stealing $33,000 in stolen Canada Emergency Response Benefit cheques.
In a release, RCMP state that the $33,000 in stolen Canada Emergency Response Benefit chequeswas were recovered by Surrey RCMP Officers with the Covid-19 Compliance and Enforcement Team (CCET).
They note that members of CCET, "proactively patrol Surrey to inform, educate and prevent contraventions of public health safety orders." When they were on one of their patrols, members noticed three suspicious vehicles associated to a residence in Cloverdale. Allegedly, the vehicles were displaying fake license plates and fake temporary operating permits.
On April 25, just after 9:00 p.m., CCET members tried to stop one of the three vehicles as it pulled into the drive way of the residence. However, the vehicle tried to evade police by driving into the backyard. While the driver of the vehicle fled on foot, a female passenger was arrested without incident upon exiting the vehicle. After a brief pursuit, the driver, a man in his thirities, was later arrested and taken into custody.
Upon further investigation of the vehicle, law enforcement seized a large quantity of stolen property from several Lower Mainland jurisdictions, which included $33,000 worth of stolen Canada Emergency Response Benefit cheques, and numerous pieces of fraudulent identification.
The arrested male suspect has been remanded to custody, and the female suspect has been released with an appearance notice for a later date. Charges haven't been laid, but an investigation is on-going with police now processing the large quantity of seized exhibits.
“This team was created by the Surrey RCMP in collaboration with the City of Surrey to address all aspects of public safety as it relates to the Covid-19 pandemic,” says acting Community Services Officer, Inspector Wendy Mehat. “Not only are we looking out for safety aspects like social distancing, but keeping our eyes out for criminals who would seek to take advantage of opportunities presented by the pandemic.”
Since its launch at the end of March, RCMP remark that the Covid-19 Compliance and Enforcement Team has conducted more than 12,000 proactive checks of businesses, faith-based locations, event locations, recovery homes, parks and beaches in Surrey.
