Image: CFJC Today via store owner Trent Leggett / A suspect is captured on surveillance camera from a break-in of a retail store just north of Kamloops in July 2023. The person pictured appears to be Justice Nicara Lee McKay-Saul, 26, of Hope. She and Raymond Francis Thiffault, of the Chilliwack area, are facing multiple charges in relation to the break-in. Over $12,000 worth of merchandise was stolen from the store.

By Mike Vanden Bosch and James Peters, CFJC Today

Arrests made in Kamloops store break-in

Chilliwack-area man, Hope woman facing charges for breaking into retail store

Aug 21, 2023 | 10:14 AM

KAMLOOPS — A Chilliwack-area man with an extensive criminal record is one of three people facing numerous charges after a series of Kamloops-area crimes, including a recent break-and-enter at the Heffley Creek Store.

In a news release distributed to media, Supt. Jeff Pelley of Kamloops RCMP said the detachment’s Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) arrested three people in Barriere on August 10. Three stolen vehicles were also recovered.

“The arrests and subsequent charge approvals came following an investigation that led the Kamloops Detachment CRU to a property in Barriere and to three suspects,” said Pelley. “With the assistance of frontline officers in Barriere and Kamloops, as well as support units, the CRU was able to take three suspects into custody and obtain a search warrant for a residence, which led to the recovery of stolen property. The progression of this investigation is in support of the CRU’s ongoing mandate and continued efforts to enforce and suppress crime in our local communities.”

Image: CFJC Today via store owner Trent Leggett / A woman is caught on surveillance during a break-in of a Kamloops-area retail store in July 2023. Over $12,000 worth of merchandise was stolen during the break-in. The woman crouching down appears to be Justice Nicara Lee McKay-Saul, 26, of Hope.

The Heffley Creek Store was burglarized on July 3, with owner Trent Leggett reporting a cost of about $20,000 in stolen property and damage, according to a news report from CFJC Today reporter James Peters.

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The three people charged include:

Raymond Francis Thiffault, 32, of Chilliwack

• theft of motor vehicle
• failure to comply with a release order x4
• possession of stolen property x2
• break and enter
  Image: Kamloops RCMP / Raymond Thiffault has been arrested on multiple charges related to alleged crimes committed in the Kamloops area.

Thiffault was also subject to unrelated warrants out of Chilliwack. He was remanded in custody, with his next court appearance set for Thursday, August 17.

Justice Nicara Lee McKay-Saul, 26, of Hope

• theft of motor vehicle
• possession of stolen property x2
• break and enter
• failing to comply with a release order

McKay-Saul was released after her initial arrest and RCMP say a warrant has since been issued for her arrest.

George Walter Saunders, 64, of Hope

• possession of stolen property x2
• break and enter
• breach of a court order

Saunders was held in custody, with his next court appearance scheduled for Tuesday (Aug. 22).

Thiffault appears to have had multiple run-ins with the law. In a news release issued Aug. 10, Kamloops RCMP said Thiffault had been wanted on unendorsed warrants out of Upper Fraser Valley. His charges include possession of stolen property, driving while prohibited, failure to comply with a release order and failure to comply with an undertaking.

A man bearing Thiffault’s name was arrested in May 2014 in Agassiz after he was suspected of stealing a truck that was carrying a stolen snowmobile. Thiffault was later charged with two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000.