Man charged following a series of break and enters targeting new home construction

We have seized twelve firearms and a significant amount of stolen property following an investigation into a series of break and enters in Calgary.

In May 2023, our District 4 Break & Enter Team began investigating after a suspect was identified in a series of break and enters that targeted new home construction sites in Calgary. During the four-month investigation, officers were able to locate two storage units in southeast Calgary that the suspect was believed to be using to store stolen property.

On Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, investigators conducted a search warrant on the two storage units, as well as a residence located in the 16000 block of Highway 552, south of Calgary. As a result, police seized the following items:

• Seven rifles
• Five shotguns
• Three crossbows
• Body armour
• Multiple rounds of ammunition
• A small amount of crystal methamphetamine
• A utility trailer
• A Suzuki motorcycle
• A Kawasaki dirt bike
• Various property relating to new-home construction that is believed to be stolen, including microwaves, a gas fireplace insert, unopened boxes of tile and flooring, new faucets, new kitchen and bathroom sinks, a cooktop and a washing machine.

Photos of some of the seized items are available on The City of Calgary Newsroom.

It is believed that a majority of these items, including the weapons, were stolen during break and enters throughout the city. Investigators are now in the process of cataloguing the stolen property, and where possible, returning the property to its rightful owner.

“This investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be laid as new evidence comes to light,” says Acting Staff Sgt. Shelby Stewart of the CPS District 4 General Investigations Unit. “If any person or company has been the victim of a break and enter, we encourage them to report it to police so that we are able to reunite them with their property when it’s been recovered.”

Zsolt Ignac LAZAR, 46, of De Winton, is charged with four counts each of possession of an unlicensed weapon and possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order, as well as one count each of possession of a controlled substance and careless storage of a firearm.

Investigators would like to thank the RCMP for their assistance in conducting the search warrant at the property located south of Calgary.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

APP: P3 Tips

Case # CA23391589/5514