Organized Retail Crime Bust Returns Stolen Property To Calgary Retailers

The Calgary Police Service Retail Industry Crime Initiative (RICI) is working to return nearly $230,000 worth of property believed to have been stolen in Calgary by organized retail crime offenders.

The property includes more than 1,570 items of high-end clothing, wallets and purses, coats, sunglasses, and baby items seized by the Vancouver Police Department Anti–Fencing Unit after an investigation into an organized retail crime stolen property ring.

Calgary police investigators are reaching out to local retailers to identify any of the recovered property. The thefts are believed to have taken place in and around the Calgary area between October and December 2013. Any retailers who believe they may have been a victim this property loss is asked to contact Cst. Lara Sampson or Cst. Andrew Critchley by sending an email to RICI@calgarypolice.ca.

Part of the Calgary Police Service Crime Prevention Team, RICI is a joint partnership program between the Calgary Police Service and retail businesses that employ loss prevention or security personnel. Using a real-time collaborative website (www.retailcop.ca), RICI compiles and utilizes contributed information on retail offences and trends to assist in combating retail crime.

For more information on the Vancouver investigation, please click on the link below:

http://mediareleases.vpd.ca/2013/12/11/police-crack-stolen-property-ring/

Details of a media availability with a property show and tell will follow in a seperate release.