Multiple charges laid in carjacking spree

Two men have been charged in relation to a carjacking spree that led to a serious single-vehicle collision.

On Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, we responded to a series of car thefts, carjackings and attempted carjackings that occurred in less than an hour, including:

At approximately 4:15 p.m., a citizen was sitting in the driver’s seat of his vehicle in a parking lot located in the 5900 block of Centre Street S., when two unknown men drove into the parking lot in a Chevrolet Silverado. One of the unknown men approached the citizen’s vehicle and attempted to gain entry, causing approximately $5,000 worth of damage to the vehicle. The citizen was able to drive away, and the suspects fled in the Silverado, which was later determined to have been stolen earlier that day.
Less than five minutes later, the same suspects drove to Sue Higgins Park, located at Southland Drive and Deerfoot Trail S.E., where they ditched the Silverado and stole a Ford Ranger that had been left running and unattended.
Approximately 15 minutes later, the Ranger was driven to a parking lot located in the 5300 block of 72 Avenue S.E., and the same men exited the truck. The suspects approached another vehicle, opened the door and attempted to physically remove the driver. The driver fought back, and the suspects disengaged and then targeted a second vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, that was parked in the same lot. Both suspects physically pulled the driver from the Corolla, entered the vehicle and fled, leaving the Ranger behind.
Ten minutes later, at approximately 4:40 p.m., the Corolla was driven to a parking lot located in the 5500 block of 51 Avenue S.E., where the same suspects attempted to steal a parked BMW. A struggle ensued between the suspects and multiple witnesses, including the owner of the BMW. The suspects then fled the scene in the Corolla.

At approximately 5:10 p.m., police were then called to a field near 50 Avenue and 68 Street S.E., for reports of a single-vehicle collision involving the Corolla. Both men were successfully taken into custody and transported to hospital for injuries sustained during the collision.

This was a dynamic incident that required a significant police response from multiple patrol teams, the Canine Unit, the Forensic Crime Scenes Unit and the District 4 General Investigations Unit.

Sebastian Thomas TAIT, 30, and Hunter SAMSON-BOUCHER, 25, both of Calgary, have each been charged with three counts of robbery and one count each of theft of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen property. Both remain in custody and will next appear in court on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.

“Throughout this spree, these suspects showed a concerning escalation in violence and no regard for public safety,” says Staff Sgt. Keith Shufelt of the District 4 General Investigations Unit. “For almost an hour, we had police resources from all over the city focused on tracking and apprehending these individuals to prevent further victimization.”

Help prevent crimes of opportunity

As of today, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, 42 carjackings have been reported in Calgary this year, compared to 51 incidents reported in all of 2023. The majority of these incidents are believed to have been crimes of opportunity and not motivated by organized crime. Offenders use stolen vehicles as a means to commit other crimes, conceal their identity and evade police.

We’re reminding Calgarians to help prevent auto theft by following these safety tips:

Never leave a vehicle running and unattended with keys inside the vehicle, or if the vehicle has been started with push-button start.
Contact or visit dealerships if you are unsure of your vehicle’s security features.
Use a remote starter whenever possible and keep your vehicle locked.
Consider aftermarket anti-theft devices, for example a steering wheel lock may deter thieves.
Never leave spare keys or garage door openers in or around your vehicle. Keep vehicle keys away from the front door, criminals are using new technology to re-program key fobs from outside to steal vehicles.
Never leave people or pets in a running vehicle. Vehicle thefts happen quickly and there have been circumstances where children and pets have been inside.
Do not leave valuables, including identity documents and bank cards, in a vehicle.
Park in your garage if possible.
Report suspicious activity to police immediately by calling 403-266-1234, or 9-1-1 for crimes in progress.

Case #CA24461577