A 28-year-old man was charged last week after a woman found a man in her home six kilometres north of Claresholm.
Claresholm RCMP were alerted at 11:25 a.m. March 28 that a 20-year-old woman, who was alone in the house, discovered a stranger on the premises.
When the woman challenged the man, he left the residence and attempted to steal a Chevy pickup parked in the yard.
When the man couldn’t get the truck started, he re-entered the residence and took keys for a 1994 Cadillac Deville also parked in the yard, and drove away.
RCMP from Claresholm, Fort Macleod, and Nanton RCMP detachments responded.
The suspect and stolen vehicle were observed near Nanton and police took the man into custody without incident at a gas station in Nanton.
Further investigation found the man was in possession of drug paraphernalia and small amounts of suspected crack cocaine.
Police also discovered the man was breaching a release order and did not have a driver’s licence.
“The investigation also found that the suspect had spent the prior evening in the victim’s yard,” RCMP Sgt. Robert Harms said in a news release.
Alexander Harsanyi, 28, of no fixed address was charged with mischief, break-and-enter, theft, theft of vehicle, failing to comply with release order, possession of crack cocaine, operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s licence, and operating a vehicle with no insurance.
Harsanyi was released from custody on a $4,000 promise to pay release order with conditions.
Harsanyi is scheduled to attend Fort Macleod provincial court on April 13.
The RCMP remind people to report all suspicious activity. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
