Man charged in string of break and enters to return to court next week
By Tim Kalinowski on August 4, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com A man charged after a string of break and enters at two north Lethbridge storage facilities will be returning to court on Aug. 10.Matthew Gajda, 31, of no fixed address in Lethbridge, is charged with several offences including break and enter and possession of break and enter tools after it is alleged he and three others broke into 14 storage lockers in Lethbridge and also engaged in a series of rural thefts.
Gajda is represented by Calgary lawyer Robin McIntrye who appeared on his behalf in Lethbridge provincial court on Tuesday.
Gajda has subsequently been charged with mischief causing damage, two charges of assault with a weapon, assault and disguised with intent in additional matters before the courts.
Back in February, Lethbridge Police confirmed it had charged four people with more than 50 offences stemming from the storage locker break-ins and rural property theft.
The Priority Crimes Unit investigated the Jan. 19 and 20 break-ins and with the assistance of  Patrol Operations Division, Criminal Investigation Division, Community Peace Officers and the Coaldale RCMP, and search warrants were executed at a Lethbridge residence in the 1000-block of 17 Street South, another on Eagle Road North, and at a rural business located east of Lethbridge.
Initial estimates have the total value of seized property between $15,000 and $20,000.
Police also seized two firearms and a small amount of drugs.
Co-accused with Gajda are Nikki Gajda, 31, of Lethbridge, who is charged with 15 offences including break and enter and possess break and enter tools. Lisa Plato, 41, of Lethbridge, who is charged with 17 offences including break and enter, possess stolen property, possess controlled substances and possess identity documents (theft). And Michael McDougall, 34, of Lethbridge, who is charged with four offences including possess stolen property and failure to comply with a release order. Follow @TimKalHerald on Twitter 4
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