B.C. wants odd police haul forfeited — signed jerseys, XXXL high fashion, gold tooth
Close X
Monday, January 13, 2025
ADVT 
National

B.C. wants odd police haul forfeited — signed jerseys, XXXL high fashion, gold tooth

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Dec, 2024 10:50 AM
  • B.C. wants odd police haul forfeited — signed jerseys, XXXL high fashion, gold tooth

The B.C. government is seeking the forfeiture of an eclectic haul of sports memorabilia, supersized luxury clothing, cash, jewelry and a gold tooth that were seized by Vancouver police in a criminal probe in March.

There are XXXL jackets from Versace, Gucci and Dior, a 24-karat gold bar, $34,000 in cash and soccer jerseys signed by stars including Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.

The unusual haul of goods that was seized from an industrial area of Port Coquitlam, next to a rail yard, was detailed late last month in the B.C. Gazette in a list of items subject to forfeiture.

Owners can file a dispute within 60 days of publication in the gazette, which does not identify the owner of the property. 

Nor does it say whether the "Ronaldo jersey" was signed by the one-named Brazilian star or Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Ministry of Public Safety said in an emailed statement that it couldn't confirm whether an administrative forfeiture has been disputed "due to privacy considerations." 

The Vancouver Police Department said the seizure "relates to an ongoing criminal investigation."

"We are unable to provide additional details," Sgt. Steve Addison said in an email. 

The Vancouver Police Department made the seizure on March 1 in the 2100 block of Kingsway Avenue in Port Coquitlam. It's a stretch of road bookended by parking lots, including the Port Coquitlam Station Park and Ride for the West Coast Express commuter train. 

The B.C. Gazette entry says the goods were "obtained by commission of an offence," but doesn't specify the offence. 

The value of the signed jerseys was difficult to pin down without knowing if they're game-worn or souvenirs, said Darrell Lidstone, owner of DGL Sports in Vancouver. 

The most valuable are those worn by players during games, and certified with paperwork. 

"A game-worn Messi jersey could be worth as much as 50, $60,000," said Lidstone, whose company specializes in custom framing of jerseys.

"And if it's a game-worn jersey from a major tournament like the World Cup or the Copa (America) or something like that, you could look at something even more than that." 

Lidstone said authentic jerseys can come from a "proper certified distributor," most of which are located in Europe. 

"Game-worn jerseys are very difficult to acquire, unless you're on the inside," he said. 

He said DGL Sports has a souvenir World Cup Messi jersey on sale for $5,000, but it wasn't game-worn. 

"That same jersey for game-worn would be, you know, tenfold," he said. "In terms of where they came from, it makes all the difference in the world in terms of value." 

MORE National ARTICLES

Stolen firefighters uniforms recovered: North Vancouver RCMP

Stolen firefighters uniforms recovered: North Vancouver RCMP
Police in North Vancouver say they have recovered several stolen firefighters' uniforms, but the investigation into the theft is continuing. Mounties say an unidentified man broke into a dry cleaner in Central Lonsdale on October 5th and made off with the uniforms.

Stolen firefighters uniforms recovered: North Vancouver RCMP

Vancouver transit braces for Swift impact as parking cost spikes to $150

Vancouver transit braces for Swift impact as parking cost spikes to $150
Metro Vancouver's transit operator is rolling out expanded and extended services to cope with the impact of Taylor Swift fans during the superstar's three-night run at BC Place, as parking and ride-hailing costs soar. Parking fees next to the stadium have rocketed to more than $150 on each of Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, while the cost of a short ride to BC Place with Uber has quadrupled on concert nights.

Vancouver transit braces for Swift impact as parking cost spikes to $150

Surrey council to vote on the city's largest road project

Surrey council to vote on the city's largest road project
Surrey council is voting tonight on what the city calls its largest-ever road project. The 72 Avenue Corridor project includes an extension from 152 Street to Highway 15 and has an estimated price tag of 150-million dollars.

Surrey council to vote on the city's largest road project

Woman chased at transit station

Woman chased at transit station
A suspect has been arrested in Richmond after reports of an armed man chasing a woman at a transit station. Mounties say it happened over the weekend, when witnesses told police that a man carrying a knife got off a train and fell down an escalator.

Woman chased at transit station

2 arrested in string of break-ins

2 arrested in string of break-ins
Port Moody police say they have arrested two men in a string of vehicle break-ins in the city. Police say officers received a report over the weekend of two suspects attempting to break into parked cars in the Heritage Mountain neighbourhood.

2 arrested in string of break-ins

Man dead after collision with semi-truck

Man dead after collision with semi-truck
Police say a man is dead after his pickup collided with a semi-truck near Quesnel. Mounties say the crash happened on November 29th just before 4:30 p-m on Highway 97 north of the community.

Man dead after collision with semi-truck