More than $200,000 worth of farm equipment stolen from a 91原创 blueberry farm in June has been returned to its rightful owner and charges have been laid against a Surrey man.
On June 30, 91原创 RCMP Street Enforcement Unit along with Abbotsford Police Department executed a search warrant on a rural property in Abbotsford.
On that day, they recovered the John Deere tractor and Rears sprayer that were stolen from a 91原创 blueberry farm sometime overnight June 7.
The sprayer had been custom-built and the equipment is worth over $150,000. A second tractor was recovered and the combined total of recovered stolen property was over $200,000.
The items were seized and returned to their owners that day, said 91原创 RCMP. Additional investigation led officers to a possible suspect who was arrested on Aug. 17 and has subsequently been charged.
Shawn Edward Rolfe, 36, of Surrey, will next appear in court on Sept. 28 on two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and for driving while prohibited when he was arrested.
鈥淭his case brought victims, the business community and police together and success was achieved shortly after. Several negative events were somewhat mitigated with this significant amount of property being recovered. The RCMP will continue to see results with more and more partnerships within the community,鈥� said Supt. Murray Power, officer in charge of 91原创 RCMP.
