Mounties have charged a teenager after cattle were stolen and then sold using fake paperwork in southern Alberta.
The RCMP say they received a report that five long‑horned cows had been taken from a pasture in the Eden Valley area, about 100 kilometres southwest of Calgary near Longview.
RCMP worked with livestock inspectors and found several suspicious cattle sales linked to one person.
Investigators say the suspect sold cattle at auction markets in Fort Macleod and Picture Butte and used documents that appeared to be fake. Police also discovered that some of the names listed on the bills of sale could not be confirmed, and the actual owner of the cattle had not approved any of the sales.
The RCMP say branding played a key role in solving the case and are reminding cattle producers to keep strong records.
Police have charged 18-year-old southern Alberta resident Colin Starling with two counts of cattle theft, two counts of trafficking stolen property, and three counts of uttering forged documents.
He is scheduled to appear in court in Diamond Valley in August.