Stolen STIHL gear has been seized from stores in Moncton and P.E.I. as part of an RCMP investigation into a major theft in Ontario.
Police said nearly $650,000 worth of STIHL equipment was stolen from a business in London, Ont., in February.
A representative from STIHL contacted officers on June 17 after identifying what was believed to be stolen merchandise being sold at stores in Moncton, Summerside, Charlottetown and Montague.
The RCMP said members of the Codiac Regional RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, along with general duty officers and RCMP officers in Prince Edward Island, executed four search warrants at the identified businesses on June 23.
Police said the searches led to the recovery of hundreds of STIHL products believed to have been stolen during the February theft, with an estimated retail value of about $20,000.
Cpl. Luc Picard of the Codiac Regional RCMP said the recovery shows the value of cooperation between police, businesses and the public.
“The recovery of stolen property like this demonstrates the value of strong partnerships between police agencies, businesses and the public,” Picard said in the release.
“Working together across provincial boundaries allows us to disrupt property crime and help return stolen property to its rightful owners.”
The investigation remains ongoing as officers work to determine how the stolen equipment ended up in the possession of the businesses.
The RCMP said they are working closely with the London Police Service as the case continues.
The Codiac Regional RCMP said information related to the investigation can be provided at 506‑857‑2400.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑222‑TIPS (8477), online, or through the P3 Tips app.
