By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on July 10, 2024.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A 38-year-old man who broke into Lethbridge Iron Works six months ago won’t know his fate until after he has a sentencing hearing later this year.
Jeremy Mackenzie Toth pleaded guilty in Lethbridge court of justice to one count of break and enter, but his sentencing hearing was adjourned until Sept. 23, to allow time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. The report will provide the court with Toth’s background and personal circumstances to help determine a fit sentence.
Just before 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 5 a man called police to report that his 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander had been stolen from Lethbridge Iron Works on 32 Street North. Another employee told police two individuals had also stolen his backpack, as well as a wallet containing bank cards.
At about 7 a.m. a police officer reviewed video surveillance at the business, which showed two masked suspects walking around the building more than four hours earlier. One of suspects was seen entering a locker room, from where the backpack and wallet were taken.
Police determined the bank cards had been used at a northside McDonald’s restaurant and a 7-Eleven store for a total of nearly $100. Video surveillance at the convenience store showed one of the suspects – not Toth – buying cigarettes.
RCMP found the stolen SUV on a road near Park Lake after receiving a complaint about a suspicious vehicle. The owner of the SUV had also tracked the vehicle by GPS, and he was able to lock the doors using his cellphone.
When police arrived the vehicle was empty, and they noticed the driver’s side window had been broken after the suspects discovered they had been locked inside.
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