Two arrested after Mounties recover $33,000 worth of stolen CERB cheques in Surrey, BC

About $33,000 worth of stolen benefit cheques has been recovered by Mounties in Surrey, BC. They have made two arrests connected to the incident, according to CTV News.

The cheques came from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which is issued by the federal government to those who are no longer working due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 compliance and enforcement team in Surrey saw three vehicles at a home in Cloverdale that looked suspicious and reportedly had fake operating permits and licence plates.

On Saturday, around 9 p.m., some of the CCET team members attempted to stop a car as it left the driveway but the driver was able to avoid officers by driving into the backyard and then fleeing the scene. A female passenger was arrested right away and the male driver was arrested after being chased down.

Many stolen objects were found when the vehicle was investigated, including several fake IDs and the CERB cheques.

The male remains in police custody and the female has been released with an appearance notice for another date. The investigation is still underway and charges have not been laid.

"This team was created by the Surrey RCMP in collaboration with the City of Surrey to address all aspects of public safety as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Insp. Wendy Mehat who is the acting community services officer.

"Not only are we looking out for safety aspects like social distancing, but keeping our eyes out for criminals who would seek to take advantage of opportunities presented by the pandemic."

The CCET launched near the end of March and has completed over 12,000 proactive checks so far on things like businesses and parks, according to Mounties.