Man charged with defrauding tool rental stores

A Calgary man has been charged with fraud after providing false names to a tool rental stores and subsequently stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, a man entered Rogers Rent-All, located at 11915 16 St. N.E., and obtained rental equipment, including three generators. The man returned to the same location on Thursday, Nov. 5, Friday, Nov. 6 and Thursday, Nov. 19, and obtained several additional generators, a cordless mini-grinder, saws, chainsaws and backpack blowers.

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, the same man entered United Rentals, located at 7120 Blackfoot Trail S.E., and obtained generators and cut-off machines.

Between Thursday, Nov. 12, and Friday, Nov. 13, the same man also entered Canwest Concrete Cutting and Coring Inc., located at 5025 13 St. S.E., and obtained several pieces of large construction equipment.

It is believed that the man used false names and identities, including Jeff COX and Tyler ANDERSON, to secure the rentals and failed to return them. The total value of the stolen property is approximately $44,500.

The man was believed to be driving a distinctive vehicle – an orange, 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Daytona edition with a black push bar, colour-matched box cover and black fender flares. The truck was bearing Alberta licence plate VEB40.

A photo of the vehicle is available on The City of Calgary Newsroom.

Our investigators tracked the vehicle to a southwest residence. Inside the home, police located a significant amount of stolen property linked to the thefts. More equipment was also recovered from Stephenson’s Rental Services near Balzac, Alta., which was investigated by the RCMP.

We have charged 41-year-old Michael Christian JONES with 20 charges stemming from the thefts, including fraud, possession of stolen property, trafficking in stolen goods, identity fraud, using a forged document, possessing an identity document, drug-related offences.

Anyone with additional information related to these incidents is asked to contact the police non-emergency line at 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 #20462880