A break-and-enter at the south end of Cultus Lake in May led to the seizure of nine stolen rifles at a house on Reece Avenue on June 14.
Andrew Scott Charpentier of Chilliwack is charged with break enter and theft, possession of property obtained by crime, possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, and careless storage of firearm.
The investigation stemmed from a report made to the Chilliwack RCMP of a break and enter at a home in Lindell Beach on May 23. Chilliwack RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) investigators quickly identified a suspect linked to an address in the 46000-block of Reece Avenue.
On the afternoon of June 14, nine rifles associated to the break and enter were seized from a vehicle by police during a traffic stop in the 8800-block of Young Road. Later the same afternoon, Charpentier was arrested by RCMP near the Reece Avenue address.
“The actions Chilliwack RCMP resources from CRU, Priority Target Team (PTT), Chilliwack Traffic Service, and general duty, were responsible for recovering firearms and stolen property,” RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Rail said in a press release. “Our officers are dedicated to safety of the community.”
Charpentier is charged with the May 23 break and enter, and the firearms charges from June 14.
He remains in custody and appeared in court via video on June 24. He is next scheduled in court for a bail hearing on July 2.
This isn’t the first time Charpentier has been accused of stealing guns. In 2017, he and a woman were charged with a combined 198 offences after RCMP seized a cache of stolen guns and other property in Red Deer, Alta.
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