Red Deer, Alta. – Over the last several months Red Deer and surrounding areas have had an increase in reported thefts of metal.
Private property and business owners have been severely impacted by the thefts.
Metals are being stolen and taken to be sold as scrap metal, resulting in both private property and business owners paying for the high cost of repairs and replacements.
Between March and May 2023, Red Deer Crime Reduction Team (CRT) launched an investigation into a local business, Red Deer Metals.
As a result of a thorough and detailed investigation by the RCMP, the owner of Red Deer Metals, Tie Lu has been charged.
Lu is a 47-year-old resident of Edmonton, Alberta.
Lu has been charged under the Provincial Scrap Metal Dealers Act with the following:
- Failure to obtain and record information respecting transactions contrary to section 3(2) of the Provincial Scrap Metal Dealers Act
- Failure to use traceable currency to purchase scrap metal contrary to section 3(1) of the provincial scrap metal Dealers Act
- Failure to report transactions within the applicable allotted times contrary to section 3(6) of the Provincial Scrap Metal Dealers Act.
Lu was issued an Appearance Notice to attend the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer on August 08, 2023.
Red Deer CRT will continue to conduct compliance checks on all scrap metal dealers operating within Red Deer city limits. Compliance checks will focus on Municipal bylaws and Provincial Legislation to ensure proper operation and reporting by Scrap Metal Dealers.
Anyone who may have information is encouraged to contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-406-2200 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or using the “P3 TIPS” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.
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RCMP File Number: 2023-288265
