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Sections & Units
Our Mission:
"To optimize public safety
in the City of Calgary"
Investigative Support Section
Stolen Property Unit
What is the Stolen Property Unit?
The Calgary Police Service Stolen Property Unit focuses on recovering property, arresting the original offenders and prosecuting those who buy or sell stolen property.
The unit monitors pawnshops and second-hand stores in Calgary to locate stolen property and identify offenders who use these outlets to sell stolen property. They also ensure that storeowners follow municipal bylaws.
How to protect yourself
- Record a list of all your valuables, including serial numbers and identifiable markings. Keep a copy at home and in a second location such as work or a relative's home.
- A photograph of your property may help police to locate it, or may help the insurance agent to complete a claim.
- Do not leave personal property in a vehicle, particularly overnight.
- Possession of stolen property is a crime. If you are in possession of property that you know or should know is stolen, you can be charged with a criminal offence.
What to do if you are a victim
- Report all thefts to the police at 266-1234 regardless of size or insurance coverage. Reporting your loss gives police more information and a better chance to find the thieves and charge them, and to recover your property.
- Report the serial numbers of all stolen property to the police. The numbers are entered into the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), a national stolen property database. Police agencies can input serial numbers and match stolen property with owners from across the country.
- Provide police with a detailed description of your property. The better the description, the better the chance of matching recovered property with its owner.
- If you locate your property in a pawnshop or second-hand store, please call the Stolen Property Unit to assist in recovering it. The unit understands the industry and can recover the property through proper channels.
Understanding your insurance policy
Many people don't understand all the details of their insurance policies. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Most insurance claims are subject to a deductible, the amount you pay before your insurance coverage kicks in. Deductibles make insurance more affordable by eliminating minor claims. For example, if the item stolen is worth $300 and your deductible is $500, a claim cannot be made.
- Some policies limit the amount you can claim on certain items such as cameras and bikes, no matter how much they're worth. Check with your insurance company - often you can purchase additional coverage for a small annual fee. You'll need to provide the company with descriptions and serial numbers of the items.
- If you have been a victim of a burglary or theft, you must file a report with the police before making an insurance claim.
- The insurance company will want to know exactly what was stolen, when you acquired it and how much it cost.
- Illegally accumulated property is not insurable. Many policies exclude smuggled items that have not been declared to Canada Customs.
- If police recover your property after a claim has been settled, the property belongs to the insurance company. The insurer will salvage the property to offset the cost of you claim.
- You do not have to repay the insurance company or return the replacement property if your stolen property is recovered. It becomes the property of the insurance company.
Pawnshops and second-hand stores
At a pawnshop, a customer brings in property as collateral on a short-term loan and enters into a civil contract with the store. The shop determines the duration of the loan (usually 30 days), during which time the customer can redeem the pawned merchandise.
Approximately 70 per cent of property collected at a pawnshop is redeemed. If the merchandise is not redeemed by the end of the contract, it becomes the property of the shop. Property cannot be displayed or put on sale for 45 to 90 days from the date of the pawn.
A second-hand store buys used property. The store is not allowed to display the property before 30 days from the time of sale.
Both businesses must collect information about the transaction, including a detailed description of the property and the person selling or pawning. The pawner or seller is required to provide two pieces of identification.
Pawnshops and second-hand stores in Calgary operate under municipal bylaw 32M98.
- Property inventory form
Use this form to record the serial numbers and descriptions of your belongings. If this information is recorded, the police will have a better chance of solving your crime and recovering your property. It will also make your insurance claim easier.
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