Calgary, AB,
19
December
2017
|
16:23
America/Denver

Online Stolen Property Team recovers stolen camera

The Calgary Police Service Online Stolen Property Team has laid charges against two individuals in relation to a break-in that occurred at a local camera store.

On Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at approximately 5:45 a.m., a store employee called police after discovering the store, located in the 800 block of 11 Avenue S.W., had been broken into. It is believed that offenders pried open the rolling metal shutters covering the glass windows and then smashed the windows to gain access to the business. Once inside, offenders targeted two glass display cases by smashing them and taking the items that were inside.

Offenders took a Hasselblad camera and three associated lenses as well as a Leica camera. The total value of property stolen was over $30,000 and offenders caused approximately $7,000 in property damage to the business.

On Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, police received a tip from a member of the public who believed they had spotted one of the stolen cameras for sale through an online classified. Investigators in District 1 quickly passed this information onto the CPS Online Stolen Property (OSP) Team for follow up.

The OSP Team communicated with the seller and arranged a meeting for Monday, Dec. 19, 2017. With assistance from District Operations Team members and District 4 patrol officers, investigators successfully arrested two males at this meeting.

Police recovered the stolen Hasselblad camera and the three associated lenses.

Tan Xuan Hung BUI, also known as Kenny BUI, 60, of Calgary, has been charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, trafficking of stolen property over $5,000 and possession of a controlled substance.

Justin Edward ROSS, 35, of Calgary, has been charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, trafficking of stolen property over $5,000, breach of a recognizance order and two outstanding warrants.

Police would like to thank the media and the public for their instrumental assistance in this file.

The Service formed the Online Stolen Property Team at the end of March 2017 and since then investigators have assisted in 287 calls for service, recovered almost $500,000 worth of stolen property and laid more than 200 charges against offenders. Officers on this team are dedicated to investigating offenders believed to be selling stolen property online and work closely with CPS members on the frontline, in the Centralized Break and Enter Teams and the District Operations Teams.

Case #17540616/3525