Male and female charged in connection with jewelry store break-in and theft

Lethbridge Police have charged a 39-year-old male and 34-year-old female in connection with a jewelry store break-in that resulted in the theft of more than $47,000 worth of gold chains.

The pair are also facing charges in similar jewelry store thefts in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

On August 23, at approximately 5:30 a.m., a male was recorded on video surveillance breaking into Park Place Mall. The video shows the male proceed through the mall to Paris Jewelers, where the window was smashed. Once inside, approximately $47,100 worth of gold chains were stolen. After leaving the mall, the male entered a waiting Dodge Caravan and fled the area.

Following further investigation, police located video surveillance of a suspicious male and female attending several jewelry stores in the mall two days prior to the break-in. The subjects were quickly identified as two Edmonton residents wanted in connection with multiple jewelry store break-ins. 

Investigators determined the female rented the Dodge Caravan in Edmonton several days before the break in and it was found abandoned just outside Lethbridge on August 24. Physical evidence linking the female to the site where the vehicle was left was also seized. Police found the subjects purchased an RV from a Lethbridge marketplace seller on August 24 and are believed to have left the city at that time. 

On September 1, the pair was arrested in Warman, Saskatchewan while operating the RV. A search warrant was executed and police recovered 57 diamond rings linked to previous jewelry store break-ins. The necklaces stolen from Paris Jewelers in Lethbridge were not recovered, however police located a gold smelter inside the vehicle.

Waylon Chuck Tourangeau, 39, and Brianna Marcella Bouchie, 34, both of Edmonton, are each charged with shopbreaking and commit theft. 

Tourangeau remains in custody in Saskatchewan and Bouchie has been released.