Calgary, AB,
06
October
2022
|
11:55
America/Denver

Police charge man with multiple residential break and enter incidents, seek to return stolen property

Following an extensive investigation, a Calgary man who is believed to be responsible for several residential break and enter thefts that occurred in various communities across the city has been charged.

It is believed throughout August 2022, four homes were targeted by the suspect after he was hired to complete home improvement projects for each of the victims.

In each incident, the suspect gained the victim’s trust by offering home renovation services through his company called Innovative Renovations LTD., also known as Innovate Renovations LTD., and was subsequently hired to complete work on the victim’s home, garage or property.

The suspect is then believed to have returned to the victims’ homes while the homeowners were away and forcefully entered each residence. As a result, homeowners reported several items missing including electronics, tablets, designer handbags and wallets, jewelry, and important personal and identification documents.

The investigation led officers to execute two search warrants at a home in the 6000 block of Centre Street N.E., where property belonging to all four victims was seized. 

As police were recovering stolen property from the residence, it is believed that property belonging to several other unknown victims was also found, including iPhones, jewelry, sunglasses, handbags and wallets, clothing, keys and cameras.

Photos of some unique, unclaimed items are available. Anyone who believes they are the rightful owner of the property is asked to contact police by calling the non-emergency line.

Police also seized several firearms and illicit marijuana from the residence.

As a result, Jia Wei LIANG, who also goes by Ben LIANG, 34, of Calgary, is charged with:

·         Four counts of break and enter

·         Three counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000

·         One count of fraud over $5,000

·         One count of utter a forged document

·         One count of possession of a fraudulent document

·         Seven counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm

·         Two counts of unsafe storage of a firearm

·         One count of possession of a controlled substance

·         One count of possession of illicit marijuana

He will next appear in court on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.

“We are thankful the victims came forward to report the incidents to police and that we were able to return several of the stolen items to the rightful owners,” says Staff Sergeant Colin Chisholm of the Calgary Police Service General Investigations Unit. “If citizens believe they have been victimized in a similar way, we encourage them to report it to police, for two reasons. First, we hope to one day recover and return items to their rightful owners. Secondly, we can’t lay charges in relation to stolen property unless we have a corresponding report to identify a victim.”

Stolen property can be reported online, at any district office, or by calling the non-emergency line.

Anyone with information about these incidents or who believes they may have been a victim of a similar incident, 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 #CA22387310/5316