Four men have been arrested in Hope after fraudulent credit cards were used at Cooper’s Foods.
In early March, police received a complaint from the store that two men had allegedly purchased items with fraudulent credit cards. Photographs from surveillance cameras were then circulated around the local RCMP detachment.
On March 15, a Cooper’s Foods employee informed police that the same men had returned and when confronted, fled the store on foot.
“One of our officers saw a man matching the description running towards Hope Auto Body and when he approached the area, a van took off onto Old Hope Princeton Way,” said Staff Sgt. Suki Manj. “At the same, an officer was coming the other direction, he turned around and stopped the van up the road just past the detachment.”
The three men in the van were arrested as well as a fourth suspect who ran into Emil Anderson’s maintenance yard after fleeing Cooper’s Foods.
Police seized a small amount of marijuana in the van as well as electronics that may have been purchased fraudulently.
The men were released from custody on a promise to appear in court.
“It looks like we’ve uncovered that these people are linked to crimes throughout the Interior and Lower Mainland,” said Manj. “It’s turned into a big investigation and our serious crimes unit has taken over.”
Cooper’s Foods expressed gratitude to the local store employee and noted that the company works every day to ensure the safety and security of both team members and customers.