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January 08, 2018 - 2:18 PM
KELOWNA – A Merritt couple arrested last week in a stolen RV were also found with RCMP bait mail, arrested and released more than a year ago.
Julian Hoekstra, 43, and Kristina Anderson, 38, were found living in a stolen 40’ Dutchman RV worth $37,000. Inside, police found stolen mail including fraudulent documents, credit cards and pre-paid gift cards.
Anderson faces charges of breach, possession of stolen mail, possession of stolen property, possession of a falsified credit card, fraud and possession of an identity document, in addition to mail theft and theft under $5,000.
Hoekstra is charged with two breaches, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen mail, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of a falsified credit card, fraud, and possession of an identity document in addition to mail theft, theft under $5,000 and breach.
The charges go back to 2016 in Peachland, Summerland and West Kelowna.
Both have bail hearings scheduled for later this week.
Crown spokesperson Dan McLaughlin says both Hoekstra and Anderson, originally from Merritt, are charged with another theft of mail from Dec. 12, 2016 in Peachland.
A media release from RCMP at the time says police received a report of theft of mail from a community box in the 3800 block of Dryden Road in Peachland.
Police were able to find Hoekstra and Anderson because of a tracking device used by Canada Post in so-called bait mail, according to O’Donaghey.
Canada Post postal inspectors used the tracking device to lead police to a red 2002 Oldsmobile Alero at a Shell gas station in the 2500 block of Dobbin Road in West Kelowna, where the couple were arrested, O'Donaghey says.
Amongst the items seized by investigators, police recovered a cellular phone, gift cards and Canadian passports.
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