Brantford Police launched an investigation and say they quickly discovered that several of the missing items had likely been sold to various collectors across Canada.
Police say that a three-month investigation identified specific residences where the stolen property was believed to be located.
Last week, five homes were searched across Ontario and Alberta by police officers from Brantford, Halton Region, the OPP and the RCMP.
Police say they recovered several items of Wayne Gretzky memorabilia including game-used sticks, hockey gloves, pants, jerseys and the NHL’s Player-of-the-Year award from the 1983-84 season.
The estimated value of the recovered property is believed to be worth more than US$500,000.
So is that to say they recovered the stolen good from the thieves, or from the collectors or “collectors” who’d bought it?
The article wasn’t very clear.
I first heard the story on a Canadian radio station via Internet stream. IIRC, they recovered what had yet to be sold and the ongoing investigation primarily involves the buyers.
The plot thickens: the Canadian equivalent of a state trooper was involved!