CALGARY – Police have charged two people for allegedly selling stolen goods at a northwest flea market.
Officers visited the flea market in the 1300 block of 5 Avenue N.W. on Sunday, Oct. 25 after receiving a tip that stolen merchandise was being sold by a vendor there.
Investigators later executed a search warrant on a home and a van in the 1400 block of 19 Avenue N.W. and found stolen clothing, toiletries and camping equipment with an estimated value of $56,000.
Police have charged 75-year-old Sonia Kereluk and 69-year-old William Henry Fisher with possession of stolen property for the purpose of trafficking.
“This type of crime is a growing problem in Canada and it is estimated to cost Canadian retailers over $4 billion each year,” said police in a Thursday news release.
Police say Calgarians can avoid purchasing stolen goods by:
- Purchasing goods from licensed, reputable businesses only
- Comparing the price of goods to their typical market value. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is
- Asking sellers how they obtained the property and why they are selling it so cheap. If the answers do not add up, it should be a cause for concern
- Checking to see what else a seller has for sale when you come across new goods on online classifieds sites. If they are primarily selling new goods and are not a business, it should be considered a red flag.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police or contact Crime Stoppers.
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