Search warrant finds $150K in stolen property in M.D., several charges laid

Suspect released All images submitted by Bonnyville RCMP. 

A haul of heavy equipment and trucks seized by Bonnyville RCMP in a search warrant is valued at over $150,000.

A Bonnyville man is facing over a dozen charges following a May 31st warrant executed in the M.D. near Township Road 622 and Range Road 463, police said on Thursday.

The items recovered include a pipe trailer valued at $25,000, a CASE skid-steer loader valued at $30,000, three pickup trucks, a light tower worth $4000, two snowblowers, a pressure washer and property belonging to Canadian Natural Resources were all recovered as well, many of which had their VINs either removed or tampered with. 

The suspect also had a loaded handgun. The owner possesses a Restricted PAL, but the handgun was left loaded and accessible and wasn’t locked up, RCMP said. 

The RCMP K Division Auto Theft Unit assisted with the investigation which led to multiple charges.  

Aaron Berg, 31, of Bonnyville is charged with Careless Storage of a Firearm, Fraudulent Concealment (VIN Tampering), Destroying a VIN and 14 counts of Possession of Stolen Property Over $5000.

Berg was brought before a Justice of the Peace who released him to appear in court on June 18th.