Alberta police recover $1M in stolen holiday trailers, other vehicles

Investigators have recovered 13 stolen holiday travel trailers worth an estimated $970,000.

ALERT's southeast Alberta property crime unit said in a release Tuesday the stolen trailers were rounded up during a three-month investigation that also turned up a stolen sports car, motorbikes, tools and vehicle parts.

Nathan Herter, 36, and Mathew Hillier, 36, both from Medicine Hat, face multiple charges.

It's believed they put fake vehicle identification number (VIN) stickers on the vehicles before reselling them. Severaltrailers were purchased at steep discounts, and investigators found themin the possession of a third-party.

"This was a complex, co-ordinated scheme that undoubtedly ruined many families'summer vacation plans. However, the impact of organized crime extends beyond the victim, and is a cost that society collectively bears," said Supt. Dwayne Lakusta,ALERT's chief executive officer.

The thefts started lastDecember and occurred in Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.

Service Alberta, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Medicine Hat Police and various RCMP detachments assisted ALERT with the investigation.