Police charge Airdrie man in connection with commercial lumber theft

Lethbridge Police have charged a 52-year-old male with shopbreaking and theft after more than $30,000 in lumber was stolen from two Lethbridge businesses and later recovered.

The investigation began last month after police responded to a report of a theft September 2 from Challenger Building Supplies along the 3300 block of 8 Avenue North when staff discovered a significant quantity of plywood – worth $12,000 – had been stolen. On September 3, staff at Logic Lumber along the 1200 block of 39 Street North reported that a significant quantity of hardie board – worth $19,000 – had been stolen and $4,000 worth of product had been damaged. In both incidents the locks to fenced compounds were damaged in order to gain entry and the thefts occurred over the weekend.

Following further investigation by Patrol members and the Property Crimes Unit, police obtained video surveillance of suspicious activity at both locations the night of August 31. Investigators determined a tandem truck with a crane was stolen from Challenger, attended Logic Lumber and was used to load the hardie board before returning to the Challenger yard where other loading equipment was also found to be have been used. A black truck and trailer, loaded with the stolen products, was then recorded on CCTV leaving the yard. 

Police were able to identify the registered owner of the black truck and trailer and with assistance from RCMP further evidence was obtained. Search warrants were subsequently executed at three properties. The stolen lumber was located at a home in Airdrie, where some was being used to construct a new garage, and a rural property under construction in Rocky View County.

On October 2, LPS members attended Airdrie and the subject was arrested without incident. 

Darren Jerry Day, 52, of Airdrie, is charged with two counts of shopbreaking and commit theft and theft of a motor vehicle. Day was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court December 11.