Facebook sleuths help police bring charges in Auburn Bay tire thefts

Neighbourhood sleuths who captured photos and video of brazen tire thefts in the southeast community of Auburn Bay are being credited with helping to bring charges against a Calgary mother and son, police said in a release Wednesday.

Police say the pair stole four tires from a fenced yard next to a residence in the 14000 block of Deer Ridge Drive S.E. on December 8.

While security camera footage allowed the suspects to be identified, police could not locate them.

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Eight more tires were stolen from the backyards of two homes in the community of Auburn Bay between April 11 and April 13, police say.

Members of a Facebook page, Auburn Bay Blockwatch, had posted multiple photos and video of the alleged thefts and one member, Luke Magdy, helped piece them all together.

The suspects were located and arrested April 14 with police giving kudos to the alert residents.

Cst. Mark Smith posted to the group, saying, "I owe you a beer Luke Magdy!"

Magdy tells CBC News it's a case of people working together to make a difference.

"I feel great," Magdy saidof the charges being laid in the case.

"Auburn Bay is our community and you are not going to come in here and steal from us."

Magdy said it started when his snowblower was stolen last year.

"So I took to the Facebook community and I posted 'Hey, someone stole my snowblower, if you have seen anything, let me know.' I had 13 comments right away," he said.

"Unfortunately I didn't get my snowblower recovered but that sent us on this path."

Teresa Jacobs had tires stolen from her home in broaddaylight. She checked footage from CCTV cameras the family hadinstalled and the entire theft was caught on camera, which she posted to the Facebook group and gave to police.

"I think it is amazing how people from different neighbourhoods or even different places in the world can connect through social media to come together as a community to catch some of the bad people in the world,"Jacobssaid.

"It is just amazing how something like this, connects us."

A 65-year-old woman is charged with theft under $5,000 and a 37-year-old man is facing charges of theft under $5,000 and driving without a licence. Police say more charges are pending against both suspects.

"We work hard for what we have and there is no reason why we can't feel safe in our community," Magdy said.

"We will work together."