{"data":{"id":"76706779-71f0-4f16-85dc-3eba7220a2e7","originKind":"SYNDICATED","title":"Five arrested following copper wire theft from northern Alberta oilsands museum","summary":"Five people have been arrested following reports of a copper wire theft at the Syncrude ‘Giants of Mining’ Exhibit north of Fort McMurray last week.\n\nPolice were contacted after the group was seen travelling southbound on Highway 63 in a black GMC truck shortly after 5:00 a.m. Oct. 1. After being located, they were asked to stop but allegedly failed to do so.\n\nA short time later, another traffic stop was initiated by additional RCMP officers, in which the suspect vehicle came to a halt.\n\nAll five occupants were subsequently arrested.\n\nA search of the vehicle was conducted, which resulted in the seizure of approximately $15,000 in stolen copper wire, suspected cocaine and methamphetamine, bear spray and a taser.\n\nPolice said the suspect vehicle was also determined to have been stolen and had an altered Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).\n\nThree Calgary residents; Jimmy Hulley, 42, Thomas Lemon, 45 and Jaclyn Bateman, 35, and two Rocky View County residents; Michaela Felice, 25 and Travis Birch, 46, now face over 30 theft, drug and weapons charges combined.\n\nHulley and Birch were since released following a judicial interim release hearing, while Bateman, Lemon and Felice remain in police custody.\n\nEach suspect is set to appear in court, beginning Oct. 14, 2026.\n\nThe exhibit, just 43 kilometres north of Fort McMurray near Syncrude’s Mildred Lake facility, stages a range of historical oilsands mining equipment that were used at the Syncrude facility in the past years from decommissioned draglines to bucketwheel excavators. The site also houses a grand display of equipment that visitors can learn about.\n\nRelated Police issue arrest warrant for duo involved in $120,000 bank fraud, launch Fort McMurray financial crimes unit\n\nFort McMurray Heritage Village to re-open this spring following $800,000 fraud scandal\n\nIUmanah@postmedia.com\n\nBookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add FortMcMurrayToday.com.\n\nSign up for the Fort McMurray Today newsletter here\n\nYou can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.","url":"https://edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/police-copper-wire-heist-oilsands-museum","imageUrl":"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/suspect-vehicle-3_305649909.jpeg","publishedAt":"2026-10-08T19:05:20.000Z","sourceLabel":"Edmonton Journal Music","tags":["Crime","Local Arts","News"],"authorName":"Itoro Umanah","contentHtml":"\"The

Five people have been arrested following reports of a copper wire theft at the Syncrude ‘Giants of Mining’ Exhibit north of Fort McMurray last week.

Police were contacted after the group was seen travelling southbound on Highway 63 in a black GMC truck shortly after 5:00 a.m. Oct. 1. After being located, they were asked to stop but allegedly failed to do so.

A short time later, another traffic stop was initiated by additional RCMP officers, in which the suspect vehicle came to a halt.

All five occupants were subsequently arrested.

A search of the vehicle was conducted, which resulted in the seizure of approximately $15,000 in stolen copper wire, suspected cocaine and methamphetamine, bear spray and a taser.

\"

Police said the suspect vehicle was also determined to have been stolen and had an altered Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Three Calgary residents; Jimmy Hulley, 42, Thomas Lemon, 45 and Jaclyn Bateman, 35, and two Rocky View County residents; Michaela Felice, 25 and Travis Birch, 46, now face over 30 theft, drug and weapons charges combined.

Hulley and Birch were since released following a judicial interim release hearing, while Bateman, Lemon and Felice remain in police custody.

Each suspect is set to appear in court, beginning Oct. 14, 2026.

The exhibit, just 43 kilometres north of Fort McMurray near Syncrude’s Mildred Lake facility, stages a range of historical oilsands mining equipment that were used at the Syncrude facility in the past years from decommissioned draglines to bucketwheel excavators. The site also houses a grand display of equipment that visitors can learn about.

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IUmanah@postmedia.com

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add FortMcMurrayToday.com.

Sign up for the Fort McMurray Today newsletter here

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.

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