Pawn shop discovery leads police to stolen goods stockpile

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This article was published 09/07/2024 (427 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When an engraved watch was flagged at a pawn shop, it opened up “Pandora’s box” that led to the recovery of more than half a million dollars in stolen goods, guns and drugs by Winnipeg police officers.

“Sometimes what starts as a simple property crime report balloons into a much more complex investigation,” said Insp. Jennifer McKinnon of the Winnipeg Police Service major crimes unit, at a news conference Tuesday.

In June, police pawn investigators were made aware of an engraved watch that was thought to be stolen. The watch led investigators to a suspect who had a lengthy rap sheet.

Search warrants were executed at a house on the 800 block of William Avenue and at a storage facility in the city on June 26. More than $540,000 in stolen property was seized.

John Paul Schooley, 53, has been charged with multiple gun, drug and theft offences. He remains in custody.

Among the recovered goods were more than 90 bikes, valued at more than $90,000, 1,207 cellphones valued at $241,000, long guns and air soft guns, electronics, tools and musical instruments.

Methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, with a combined street value of more than $60,000, was also seized from both properties, McKinnon said.

Investigators believe items were stolen from homes and businesses and sold for drugs and money

“It’s not surprising to see drugs present … it can be as simple as you steal an item and tool and trade it in for drugs, which (the accused) had,” McKinnon said.

The accused was in police cross-hairs due to his colourful criminal record, McKinnon said.

Court records show Schooley was sentenced in 2018 to 28 days in custody for theft under $5,000. In 2020, he was put on unsupervised probation for failing to comply with the conditions of a release order.

Schooley has 29 unrelated outstanding charges, including identity fraud, possession and trafficking of property obtained by crime, possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and multiple weapons offences, records show.

McKinnon said other suspects are being investigated in connection with the massive theft operation.

The bust is “proof in the pudding” the retail theft initiative that was launched in December 2023 is working, the investigator said.

“These types of investigations don’t work unless we have collaboration,” McKinnon said. “What makes it challenging is that it’s a multifaceted nature of shoplifting, which intersects with various social issues… there’s no one-size-fits-all solution or approach.”

Property crime incidents decreased by nearly seven per cent last year in Winnipeg, but increased five per cent over a five-year average, as per Winnipeg police’s annual statistical report released in June.

McKinnon highlighted the need to label and document items of value so they can be returned if they are stolen and later recovered.

“Without adequate information like serial numbers or engravings, it becomes challenging for us to prove ownership and return property,” McKinnon said.

She suggested people take photos of property, document items of value, engrave jewelry and register their bikes.

“These simple steps can significantly increase the chances of recovering stolen property and holding offenders accountable,” she said.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca