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Equipment stolen from Langley blueberry farm recovered, Surrey man charged

More than $200,000 in equipment was recovered from an Abbotsford property in June
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This tractor was also stolen but recovered by police in June. A 36-year-old Surrey man charged.

More than $200,000 worth of farm equipment stolen from a Langley blueberry farm in June has been returned to its rightful owner and charges have been laid against a Surrey man.

On June 30, Langley RCMP Street Enforcement Unit along with Abbotsford Police Department executed a search warrant on a rural property in Abbotsford.

On that day, they recovered the John Deere tractor and Rears sprayer that were stolen from a Langley blueberry farm sometime overnight June 7.

The sprayer had been custom-built and the equipment is worth over $150,000. A second tractor was recovered and the combined total of recovered stolen property was over $200,000.

The items were seized and returned to their owners that day, said Langley RCMP. Additional investigation led officers to a possible suspect who was arrested on Aug. 17 and has subsequently been charged.

Shawn Edward Rolfe, 36, of Surrey, will next appear in court on Sept. 28 on two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and for driving while prohibited when he was arrested.

“This case brought victims, the business community and police together and success was achieved shortly after. Several negative events were somewhat mitigated with this significant amount of property being recovered. The RCMP will continue to see results with more and more partnerships within the community,” said Supt. Murray Power, officer in charge of Langley RCMP.

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This custom-built farm sprayer, worth $150,000 was stolen from a Langley blueberry farm in June. It was recovered by police on an Abbotsford property nearly a month later. Just last week, a Surrey man has been charged with the theft. RCMP photo


Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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