If you’re missing a $25,000 stove, you might want to call Burnaby RCMP.
An investigation into break-ins at high-end homes under construction in the Lower Mainland recently led police to two shipping containers packed "floor to ceiling" with stolen goods, including a $25,000 fridge and other high-end appliances, home finishings and fixtures, according to a Burnaby RCMP news release.
The detachment’s Strike Force Unit, which specializes in robberies and property crimes, launched the investigation in October 2022 after reports several swanky homes under construction in Burnaby, Coquitlam and West Vancouver were targeted by theft between September 2022 and February 2023.
“The stolen property included everything from stoves, fridges, toilets and plumbing fixtures, to flooring and lighting, with many items still in their original packaging,” stated the release. “The value of seized goods is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
On Feb. 3, police raided three properties, two in the Lower Mainland and one north of Creston, B.C.
The shipping containers packed with stolen goods were discovered, and one suspect – a man from the Lower Mainland – was arrested.
The investigation is ongoing, according to the release.
“This is a significant seizure, not just due to the sheer volume of stolen goods but also due to the value of many of these high-end items, which appear to have been strategically targeted due to their value,” Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Chad Premack said in the release. “As we work to identify the rightful owners of these items, we are now appealing for any potential victims to come forward.”
Anyone who may have had items stolen is asked to reach out to investigators by email at [email protected].
Include a name, phone number, email address, address of theft, date of theft, police file number (if reported as stolen) and a description of the stolen item, including serial numbers and photos where feasible.
Police will need to validate proof of ownership before the items can be returned, according to police.
Investigators believe it’s possible homes in southeastern B.C. may have also been targeted.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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