Two men are facing two two-fours of charges.
Travis Emard West (51) and Gurmukh Singh Thiara (54) were both arrested by Surrey RCMP in March in relation to a series of liquor thefts across the Metro Vancouver area. In total, they face 48 charges for the string of thefts, according to a press release from the Surrey RCMP.
Police began an investigation in February after a series of thefts from liquor stores in Surrey. Police figured out the thefts were being conducted by a pair of men working together, and that the duo wasn't just in Surrey. Two of the 48 charges are related to a Vancouver theft, and West and Thiara also allegedly hit stores in:
- Coquitlam
- Port Coquitlam
- Delta
- Langley
- Burnaby
- Abbotsford
- Port Moody
- New Westminster
- Richmond
- Maple Ridge
- North Vancouver
- West Vancouver
They were targeting hard liquors, like vodka, rum and whiskey, often at government liquor stores.
One suspect was stealing the liquor while the other was using his cab for transportation. They would later sell the liquor.
The pair were arrested March 9. West has been charged with 26 counts of theft under $5,000 and 12 counts of failing to comply with an undertaking. West was known to police and his undertaking meant he wasn't allowed to be in any BC Liquor store during. He remains in custody.
Thiara faces 10 charges including four counts of possession of stolen property and four counts of theft under $5,000. He has been released with conditions.
With files from Cornelia Naylor and Diane Strandberg.
