Over $500,000.00 USD in stolen Wayne Gretzky memorabilia recovered

[Uhtred the Viking]

This story showed up in my news feed this morning.

https://www.brantfordpolice.ca/news-joint-investigation-recovers-gretzky-memorabilia

Apparently the items were stolen from Walter Gretzky’s house in Brantford back in August of 2020. The investigation discovered that several of the items had likely been sold to various collectors across Canada. Search warrants were served at 5 homes across Ontario and Alberta and many items have been recovered. There is a list with pictures in the story.

 

[spooner9ball]

Yes!!!! This was always a little too close to home for me. Glad to hear that there was at least some resolution.

 

[Boom Boom]

They should publish the names of these people and those who knowingly bought this stolen memorabilia. They aren't real collectors, or fans of the game if they know how and from whom these items were acquired. All Canadians should be outraged when helpless seniors homes are targeted by thieving scum. Especially a Canadian icon and wonderful human being like Walter Gretzky. For all the Gretzky family has done for this nation, they didn't deserve this. In my mind this ranks up there with people who urinate on war memorials. Nothing is sacred in this world anymore.

 

[FrozenInferno]

You've got to be a whole different breed of P.O.S to rob a kind man like Walter Gretzky

 

[sjw241]

Walter is such a kind, generous man. I’ve met him several times at my daughters hockey tournaments in Brantford. No matter how busy he might be he will still stop and chat with you at least for a minute.
I hope these thieves get the book thrown at them. and the people in possession of the stolen property also face the full extent of the law.

 

[spooner9ball]

Wow, this isn't even the theft I thought they were going to discuss. There was a large heist years ago out this way that happened to a major Gretzky collector that I never heard a resolution to.

 

[g-force]

They should publish the names of these people and those who knowingly bought this stolen memorabilia. They aren't real collectors, or fans of the game if they know how and from whom these items were acquired. All Canadians should be outraged when helpless seniors homes are targeted by thieving scum. Especially a Canadian icon and wonderful human being like Walter Gretzky. For all the Gretzky family has done for this nation, they didn't deserve this. In my mind this ranks up there with people who urinate on war memorials. Nothing is sacred in this world anymore.

How do we know that the people who bought the memorabilia knew it was stolen? I agree with the sentiment of your post but I think that's an assumption that can't be made in this case. Hopefully for Mr. Gretzky the items are recovered and returned and the people who committed the theft are held accountable for their actions.

 

[piper1]

Does anyone know who the idiot was who stole it. I say idiot because you aren't going to move stuff like that without getting caught.

 

[Triple B]

I’ve read elsewhere that it was a family friend that had access to all of this. Sad that they would betray Walter and his family like this.

 

[Hama]

I’ve read elsewhere that it was a family friend that had access to all of this. Sad that they would betray Walter and his family like this.

Apparently it's a senior OPP officer which makes this that much worse.

 

[Uhtred the Viking]

Showed up in my Twitter feed this morning.

Ken Campbell (senior writer for Sports Illustrated) says both suspects were known to the Gretzky family.

https://www.si.com/hockey/news/suspects-in-gretzky-memorabilia-theft-reportedly-known-to-the-family

Also mentions that it is possible that the suspects aren’t being named yet out of concern for their safety.

 

[geschrocks33]

Showed up in my Twitter feed this morning.

Ken Campbell (senior writer for Sports Illustrated) says both suspects were known to the Gretzky family.

https://www.si.com/hockey/news/suspects-in-gretzky-memorabilia-theft-reportedly-known-to-the-family

Also mentions that it is possible that the suspects aren’t being named yet out of concern for their safety.

This is just absolutely disgusting, IMO. Sad that things like this happen in our world.

 

[Triple B]

Apparently it's a senior OPP officer which makes this that much worse.

That's insane. Throw away your career for $6,000 (on top of stealing from Walter Gretzky).

Unreal.

 

[creasecollector]

That's ugly.

 

[Boom Boom]

Apparently it's a senior OPP officer which makes this that much worse.

This is sickening. She should be fired, stripped of pension, then sent to prison general population and lets see how she makes out.

 

[OilDrop]

Apparently it's a senior OPP officer which makes this that much worse.

From what I read about the OPP officer is that while investigating the stolen Gretzky sticks they uncovered a sale by the OPP officer of a stick that she falsely claimed was game-used, hence the fraud charges. So it's connected to the investigation, but not the actual theft.

Edit.. New article on SI says that she sold a stick connected to Wayne's childhood. It will be interesting to see who did what when this is all sorted out. But people who take advantage of the elderly are absolute scum.

 

[mully]

june dobson is the female officer,but the real culprit's name is ken hadall a family friend to the gretzky's and a close aquaintance of bobby orr

 

[bwmechtech]

Walter is one of the kindest people I've ever met. It's pretty low that anyone would take advantage of him in this way. I feel bad for the collectors who bought the memorabilia too, if they didn't know it was from crime. They'll lose what they paid. If they knew it was "hot" they deserve what's coming to them though.