Thorsby RCMP recover $427,000 worth of stolen vehicles

LEDUC COUNTY -- Thorsby RCMP recovered nearly half a million dollars worth of stolen vehicles from a property in rural Leduc County.

This seizure stemmed from an incident in mid-July when Mounties responded to a call regarding a suspicious male asleep in the driver's seat of a pickup truck. After arriving on scene, police arrested the suspect for an outstanding warrant. It was then determined shortly after that the vehicle was stolen, and that there was a loaded firearm sitting on the passenger seat.

Following the arrest, RCMP expanded their search to the nearby area, and found several other stolen vehicles located on the property and surrounding treeline. According to police, the approximate value of all recovered items was $427,000.

29-year-old Riley Garrett, a resident of Edmonton, was charged with the following:

• Careless use of a firearm
• Possess a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Occupy a motor vehicle knowing a firearm inside
• Possess a firearm without a license
• Possession of a loaded firearm with readily accessible ammunition
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 (x7)
• Fail to comply with an order (x2)
• Operate motor vehicle while prohibited

He was then transported to Edmonton Remand Center and is now awaiting his next court appearance.