Shelburne County District RCMP has charged two people with multiple offences related to property crimes that occurred around Nova Scotia.
On September 22, Barrington RCMP Detachment responded to a report of theft of gas from a gas station in Barrington Passage. Officers learned that two people arrived at the gas station in a white cube van, fuelled up, and left without paying for their purchase.
Later that day, neighbouring Yarmouth Town RCMP Detachment responded to several theft reports involving an e-bike and alcohol. The people involved in these thefts were reported to have been in a white cube van, matching the description of the suspect vehicle in the theft of gas in Barrington Passage.
Officers conducted patrols in the area and located the van in Barrington Passage. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled from police in a dangerous manner, including evading a spike belt. In the interest of public safety, officers did not pursue the van.
Thanks to cooperation with Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) corporate security, investigators identified the two people involved and learned that they were also linked to several other thefts and property crime offences across the southwest region of Nova Scotia and Halifax.
On September 24, Halifax Regional Police located and safely arrested two people associated to these thefts, and they were later turned over to the Shelburne County District RCMP for further investigation.
Patrick Thomas Russel, 38, of Charleston, is facing a total of thirty charges including Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance (vehicle) (two counts), Theft (twenty-one counts), Assault on a Peace Officer, and Failure to Comply with both a Release Order and a Probation Order.
Zatora Sofia Lee Hines, 34, of Halifax, is facing a total of eleven charges including Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance, Assault on a Peace Officer, and Theft (four counts).
These offences took place in Shelburne, Yarmouth, Queens, and Lunenburg Counties, and Halifax Regional Municipality. This investigation has required significant collaboration between police across Southwest Nova RCMP District, Halifax Regional Police and Bridgewater Police. Shelburne County RCMP are leading the investigation have been in constant communication with other jurisdictions and police agencies to ensure a swift and safe outcome.
Russel and Hines had a first court appearance at Yarmouth Provincial Court on September 25 and remain in custody pending future court appearances.
Good security video was essential to identifying the people involved in these thefts. Any organizations with surveillance cameras are encouraged to confirm that their cameras are working properly and aimed at relevant points inside and outside the space, and that employees are able to review and save footage as needed.
