Members of the Calgary Police Service are asking for public assistance in identifying the culprit of a Saturday evening car prowling in a northwest parking lot which separated an off-duty officer from his police issue patrol rifle.
On Saturday night, an off-duty officer left a locked hard covered carrying case containing his police issue firearm in his personal vehicle while he visited a restaurant in the Crowfoot Crossing Shopping Centre.
When the officer returned to his vehicle, he discovered his car had been broken into and the case, containing the rifle and 56 rounds of ammunition, had been removed. The vehicle had been parked at a location situated between the Cineplex Odeon Crowfoot Crossing Cinemas and Schanks Sports Grill.
An investigation into the incident revealed the theft occurred between the hours of 10:45 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
Police have secure surveillance footage from the area and have identified a suspect vehicle in connection to the theft. The make and model of the vehicle have not been confirmed.
Police believe the suspect vehicle may have blocked the path of another vehicle and are hoping the witness will come forward.
"Post incident, things can seem very obvious to us but in the context of the moment somebody, whether they came from a theatre or a pub or a restaurant, they might not recognize even what they're seeing until their attention is brought to us later on and that's really common," said Sgt. Jason Walker of the CPS guns & gang unit.
"These folks might have seen something that is very important to us, but, at the time, they may have thought nothing of it, other than that 'I want to get out of this parking lot and there's a car in my way and some guys are doing stuff, what the heck?'."
The officer has been suspended with pay during the investigation into the matter.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact one of the following:
- The Calgary Police Service - 403-266-1234
- CPS guns and gang unit – 403-428-8664
- Crime Stoppers
