Female arrested during break and enter is believed responsible for other thefts

On November 21st, 2023 at 8:55 a.m., representatives from a property in the 600 block of 7th Avenue in Castlegar, BC arrived to the property observing what appeared to be forced entry to the building. While Castlegar RCMP were en route to the location, the property representatives located a female inside believed to have forcefully entered the building with an intent to steal property. The property representatives spoke with the female for a brief period before police arrived, and took the female into police custody without incident.

Upon the female’s arrest, police recognized the female from surveillance footage that captured two females stealing property from a business located at the 1900 block of Columbia Avenue in Castlegar. The surveillance footage was recorded on November 9th and captured the two females stealing two televisions from the property.

On November 22, 2023, 32-year-old Cortney Leonard of Passmore, BC was brought before the provincial courts after being officially charged with Break and Enter with Intent to Commit Offence and Theft under $5,000.00. Ms. Leonard was released from custody on bail conditions, which includes a condition to not be in Castlegar. She is scheduled to next appear in Castlegar Court December 13, 2023

The matters are still under investigation, including identifying the female involved in the November 9th theft, and police ask anyone with information to call the Castlegar RCMP at (250) 365-7721.