Significant Cash Recovery
Wednesday, August 22, 2012 @ 4:36 PM
Prince George, B.C. – An American man, passing through Prince George on his way to Idaho from Alaska is thanking his lucky stars.
Last friday morning, someone broke into his car that was parked near the corner of George Street and 5th Avenue, and made off with nearly $50 grand in American money.
The Prince George RCMP’s Crime Reduction Team was tasked with assisting in this investigation. Evidence left at the scene provided a starting point for the investigators, which eventually lead to the identification of a suspect. At approximately 8:00 PM the same day, CRT members attended a local motel where the suspect was located and arrested. Search of the room found over $44,000 in American currency.
Additional information was obtained that more of the stolen cash was in a garbage bin at the motel. An officer conducted a thorough search of the garbage bin and recovered approximately $1150 in American currency.
All the cash was returned to the victim who was described by officers as being "ecstatic". He stated that the return of the money "changed his family’s life". At the time of the theft, the 44 year old business owner was in the process of relocating his family from Juneau, Alaska to Idaho.
The suspect has been held in custody on charges related to a Break & Enter from earlier in August. The investigation into this property offence is continuing.
"This is a good news story that could have easily been a disheartening one. The outstanding work of our Crime Reduction Team is the reason why an American guest to our community left with a smile on his face instead on an empty wallet" says Cpl. Craig Douglass, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RCMP.
The Prince George RCMP would like to remind the public that leaving anything of value in a vehicle is risky. Thieves will often do whatever it takes to access and steal anything of value including loose change, electronic equipment, and all terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Comments
Glad he got his dough back but really!!!!!!… who travels around with 50k and further more who leaves it in there car unattended……
the man is absolutely goofy. Has he never heard of banks? Is there more to this story?
No kidding. I’m not sure but is it even legal for an individual to bring that much foreign currency into the country.
Anybody wanna put a toownie on this guy was on his way to a drug deal???
As soon as you move more than $10k in cash it has to be declared. But what idiot would just leave that kind of money laying around?? There must be more to this story.
Hey, bud, I think he heard that a lot of people are investing in BC …….. ;-)
Enquiring minds want to know, what is the significance of the cash?
So, exactly what was the “evidence” left at the scene?
And why would someone throw cash in the garbage?
I hate these teaser stories …… :-(
How ironic that the Crime Reduction Team showed up after the crime.
What the heck is a crime reduction team?
Do all those people not on the team work to increase crime?
Is the money not evidence in a crime and should it not be kept as evidence?
What is a “Bank”
what is a “Money Transfer”
What is his IQ ??
I agree, this story seems odd. Juneau is in the panhandle though, and there might not be a border crossing there at all to declare anything to anyone. Not sure though.
Why you would travel with that kind of cheese is beyond me though. In this day and age, electronic means is the way, unless of course you’re hiding it.
Some people don’t trust banks, and for very good reason!09
“Some people don’t trust banks, and for very good reason!”
But they are trusting enough to leave their cash in an unattended vehicle. Ok then.
“Some people don’t trust banks, and for very good reason!”
LOL, yes, because leaving $50k in your car while you sleep in a hotel is so much safer.
How foolish of a business owner. Seems very odd to me.
Break and Enter from earlier in August? Huh! Why do we keep letting these types go free to continue their deviant behavior?
I doubt if an American travelling from Alaska through Canada to the USA has to declare how much money he has. Its not like he is bring it into the Country,. rather it is just passing through.
Had a an aquaintence who left his wallet in his glove compartment, in his truck, in his driveway, in his front yard, in broad daylight, a few weeks ago. He went downtown, was gone for 1 1/2 hours, and when he returned the window in the truck was broken, the wallet and some other item were stolen.
He reported it to the police, and to the credit card company. The robber had already tried to use the card in four different places without any luck, however he was able to use it at a fifth place.
When he asked the police if they were going to look at the survellience tapes in the stores, where the card was used, they said no, they did not have the time to sift throught the tapes. He told them that an item in the consul that was brand new, had been moved, and probably had fingerprints on it, they said they would not check for prints.
So you pay the deduction for the window to ICBC, take a hit on some of the items, and thats that.
Perhaps if he was an American the police would have been more concerned about finding the crook.
All I can say is WOW! Good work on the part of the Mounties, and I think an American is really blessed with the work they did on his behalf, sure hope he spreads the word in Idaho.
You can call this guy from Alaska all the names you want, there’s plenty of reasons he was carrying that amount of cash but he’s happy, the police are happy, and one really dumb criminal bites the dust. Yeah, we gotta pay for his keep, but he’s off the street…….for now………
I can think of no other intersection within 500 miles I would want to park a car with $50,000 cash in it… lol this guy should get the Darwin award IMO.
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“is it even legal for an individual to bring that much foreign currency into the country”
Between the USA and Canada, there is no limit of how much currency one can bring into the country.
However, one has to declare anything from $10,000 and over.
“Currency and monetary instruments of a value equal to or greater than $10,000, or its equivalent in a foreign currency which are not reported, may be subject to seizure and the assessment of penalties or forfeiture. Penalties range from $250 to $5,000.”
So, can we assume then that since the money which was recovered appears to have ben returned, that the RCMP checked that it was reported at the border since having unreported money which crossed the border appears to be illegal.
Gus, the RCMP did a very fine job, the guy learned a lesson, he may have been unaware of the regulation regarding anything over 10k, there may not have been a border crossing with officials to make a report to – the outcome is excellent and the brazen scum of a thief should get a severe caning in public!
Why are people assuming he didn’t declare his money? Is he supposed to wear a pink wrist band to show his money has been declared?
I think Americans believe small canadian cities are crime free. Anyone see Micheal Moore documentary where he walked up to random houses and just walk in the front door?
Scared a male away from my Apt. building parking lot on Union Street at 1 am this morning.He was checking all the car doors, I put a highpowered flashlight on him and he ran to his bike and drove away but not before stopping down the street at 2 cars and checking them and also stopping at a house,going up the driveway and checking that car.5’10” Heavy set male jeans Black puffy coat and a white ball cap and as I said a bike,On Union St. towards 5th ave.
It is interesting that the legitimate form of money we have been using for many centuries has come down to being suspect if we have too much of it.
Plastic and electronic money is considered to be more secure as one excuse, but as the other, being more traceable by those who consider that it may not be used properly.
When I use a debit card or a credit card, I have to check every single statement to make sure that there has not been an error made. Something I do not have to do when using cash. :-(
I like cash and it shouldn’t be a crime to carry it if you have it. If someone was coming into my business with fistfulls of cash i wouldn’t ask them to declare how much they have. I would just help them spend it and then thank them for bringing so much,and say please come again.
Why did they not release the name of the fellow who had the money?? Better yet; why is he referred to as a suspect? This justice system needs an overhaul along with the RCMP.
Was the guy a
chinamin???they dont like banks…
What was the name of the Motel the suspect was living in? let me guess. Is he from P.G. or is he one of the implants we are bringing here with all the wonderful services we provide?
Good point on your last post Gus.
And does it matter really that our American guest had all that cash in his vehicle?
The focus should be on the fact the RCMP did a super job of tracking down the culprit and returned the cash.
This is great PR on our part as the city of Prince George to have hard working police to assist visitors, tourists. We would benefit from further expansion of our tourist industry. These good news stories go a long way. Stop dwelling on the negative.
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