VANCOUVER – Vancouver Police say they have busted a huge shoplifting ring operating out of a few houses in Vancouver. They have recovered more than $200,000 in stolen high-end clothing.
Police say at about 8 p.m. on Oct. 2 they executed a search warrant at a home on Fremlin Street near East 41 Avenue following an investigation into an organized retail crime group.
They believe that the organizers contracted out retail thieves who would steal high-end clothing. Those items were then brought to that home and then organized, advertised on various Internet sites and sold on the underground black market. As many as 20 people per hour were seen coming and going from the home, with many arriving in luxury vehicles to take away their stolen bargains.
Police say they will be requesting charges of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 against three people and they have also seized three vehicles believed to have been used to transport the goods.
Following another tip police executed a search warrant on another operation on McKinnon Street near East 43 Avenue on Sept. 24 and seized $100,000 of stolen goods.
“Buyers who support these black market operations are driving up retail prices, and honest consumers are literally paying the price,” said Inspector Mike Cumberworth of the VPD General Investigation Section. “Vancouver Police have seized over 1.5 million dollars in stolen goods over the past several years, the majority of those items taken from local retailers.”
Police are encouraging the public to call the Vancouver Police Anti-Fencing Unit at (604) 717-3220 if they find an underground operation in their neighbourhood. Tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477 or download their mobile app at the Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers website.
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