TWO recent arrests in connection with property crime in Surrey came as a direct result of the new electronic reporting. Investigators received information which allowed them to track down property stolen and identify two persons of interest.   

On April 17, the Surrey RCMP’s Property Crime Target Team (PCTT) arrested two men in connection with four break and enters which had occurred in Surrey between January 1 and April 17. 

Charanjiit Sahota, 32, has been charged with four counts of breaking and entering, three counts of trafficking stolen property and four counts of stolen property.

Baldeep Gill, 29, has been charged with two counts of breaking and entering and one count of possession of stolen property.

On January 1, the City of Surrey modernized the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers By-law to include electronic reporting. The bylaw, which has existed since 1997, requires pawnbrokers and scrap metal dealers to report all property they intake to police. The newly adopted electronic reporting has been designed for automated comparison with information entered in the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC). This has streamlined the process for investigators allowing Surrey RCMP to more efficiently track stolen property. 

The use of electronic software was fully implemented in Surrey on March 1. Since that time, suspects have been identified in 17 investigations of theft and break and enter from Surrey, Mission, Delta, Vancouver, Burnaby, and Langley. Stolen property worth approximately $21,500 has also been recovered. 

“With the implementation of the RAPID (Regional Automated Property Information Database) software, we are providing Surrey RCMP with real time information to help assist them in their investigations,” says Jas Rehal, Manager of Public Safety Operations for the City of Surrey. “This is another example of the strong partnership between the Surrey RCMP and City of Surrey Bylaw Enforcement that are leading to positive results for our community.” 

“Working closely with our City of Surrey Bylaws partners and using new technology to modernize existing resources is helping us deter and curtail property crime in the community,” says Superintendent Shawn Gill, Community Services Officer. “Residents can help us continue to have reductions in property crime by recording the serial numbers or identification markings of their valuable items whenever possible. This will allow us to potentially track these items should they become lost or stolen.”