A Vauxhall man is facing charges in connection with the alleged theft of irrigation equipment from farms in Southern Alberta.
According to Southern Alberta RCMP officials, the RCMP Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit, along with members from the Strathmore and Brooks RCMP, started to investigate a series of damaged or stolen irrigation pivots from farms back in May. According to police, the thefts began in Wheatland County and through police’s investigation, a suspect was identified.
According to police, in the early morning of July 16th, officers are reported to have witnessed the suspect in the process of stealing irrigation equipment from a farm in Newell County and fleeing the area at a high rate of speed. According to police, when officers next located the vehicle, it was determined that the suspect fled into the City of Brook on foot.
Police located and arrested the man in the community shortly after, and according to officials, through further investigation, they found the suspect was connected to other alleged irrigation equipment thefts across Southern Alberta, including in the MD of Taber.
The 31-year-old Vauxhall man is facing 16 charges, including theft over $5,000 and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
The 31-year-old has since been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court at the beginning of August.
