Latest news with #DanaGehring
Global News
05-06-2025
- Global News
Banned knives, stolen Winners clothes, illegal tobacco seized from Edmonton shop
Two men have been charged after Edmonton police searched a convenience store in the inner city earlier this year and found weapons, tobacco, stolen Oilers jerseys and clothes from popular stores. On April 17, the Edmonton Police Service community safety teams (previously known as healthy streets operations centre or HSOC) searched a convenience store near 106 Avenue and 97 Street that police said was known to be selling contraband cigarettes. View image in full screen Illegal tobacco found by police at a convenience store 106 Avenue and 97 Street in central Edmonton. Edmonton Police Service The officers seized 50 prohibited weapons, illicit tobacco and stolen clothing. Story continues below advertisement During the search, police came across new, brand-name items being offered for sale, including approximately $4,500 worth of stolen clothing, handbags and running shoes from stores like Lululemon, Winners and Marshalls. View image in full screen Stolen brand name clothes with tags still attached found by police at a convenience store 106 Avenue and 97 Street in central Edmonton. Edmonton Police Service The items had security and price tags still attached, some of which had been damaged by attempts to remove them. View image in full screen Stolen brand name clothes with tags still attached found by police at a convenience store 106 Avenue and 97 Street in central Edmonton. Edmonton Police Service 'The discovery of these brand-new stolen items highlights that in some cases, retail theft has evolved beyond isolated incidents and is now part of an organized system where stolen merchandise is sold at discounts by unscrupulous businesses,' said EPS Sgt. Dana Gehring. Story continues below advertisement 'This not only undermines the integrity of the retail sector but places immense financial strain on legitimate businesses trying to operate responsibly.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Police also found hidden compartments built into the store's shelving. In total, police said they seized: 50 prohibited knives, including spring-assisted knives 12,485 contraband cigarettes with an estimated retail value of $3,125 Four stolen authentic Edmonton Oilers jerseys 13 other stolen articles of clothing, including brand name handbags, ball caps and running shoes Six cellphones believed to be stolen View image in full screen Illegal knives found by police at a convenience store 106 Avenue and 97 Street in central Edmonton. Edmonton Police Service The store owner, Filmon Assefw, 26 and employee Simon Assefw, 19 are each charged with: Possession of weapons for trafficking Possession of stolen property under $5,000 Fraud under $5,000 Possession of stolen property under $5,000 Sell, transport, deliver or distribute tobacco product that is not packaged/stamped Edmonton police said investigators have identified an increasing trend of other central Edmonton convenience stores operating the same way, leading to a significant impact on surrounding businesses and communities. Story continues below advertisement In response, the EPS is working with the City of Edmonton and other partner agencies to address it. This past winter, police made similar discoveries at stores in the same area north of downtown Edmonton. In December 2024, dozens of prohibited weapons and illegal smokes were seized from a convenience store along 97 Street near 107 Avenue in the McCauley neighbourhood, that EPS said was known to be selling prohibited knives and contraband cigarettes. Police found 71 prohibited knives, including a variety of butterfly and spring-assisted knives, along with eight prohibited brass knuckles with spring-assisted knives concealed within, known as 'trench knives.' Investigators also found 172 packages of contraband cigarettes (in total, 3,470 cigarettes) and more than $18,000 in cash proceeds of crime. View full screen View full screen View full screen Previous Image Next Image Close Modal Gallery The December seizure comes four months after another store just a block away was shut down by Alberta Health Services for not having a food-handling permit. Story continues below advertisement That business in question was Bibi 16 Convenience Store, located at 10562 96 St. The AHS move came on the same day police raided the business and found a plethora of illegal tobacco and street drugs, weapons and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash police believe came from criminal operations. Police at the time said officers were seeing a disturbing trend with convenience stores openly selling drug paraphernalia, weapons and contraband tobacco and then dabbling into the sale of illicit drugs — threatening the safety of Chinatown and other central Edmonton neighbourhoods like McCauley. View image in full screen Cash, drugs and illegal tobacco Edmonton police said was seized from Bibi 16 Convenience Store, located at 10562 96 St. in July 2024. Edmonton Police Service Anyone with information about the illegal sale of weapons, tobacco or stolen goods is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online. Advertisement
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
2 charged after weapons, illegal cigarettes found at Edmonton convenience store
Two men have been charged after police found illegal tobacco, weapons and stolen goods at an Edmonton convenience store. Police said the store near 106 Avenue and 97 Street was 'known' to be selling illegal cigarettes. An Edmonton Police Service (EPS) community safety team searched the store on April 17 and found an estimated $3,125 in contraband cigarettes and 50 illegal knives. illegal cigarettes April, 2025 Police seized 12,485 contraband cigarettes, worth an estimated $3,125, from a central Edmonton convenience store on April 17, 2025. (Supplied) Officers also found about $4,500 worth of stolen brand-name clothing, including: four stolen authentic Edmonton Oilers jerseys; 13 other stolen items (clothing, handbags, hats and running shoes); and six cellphones believed to be stolen EPS said it has identified an increasing trend in convenience stores operating in a similar way, which it said is having a 'significant' impact on the local community and other businesses. Stolen clothing April 17, 2025 Police said $4,500 worth of stolen name-brand clothing, including authentic Edmonton Oilers jerseys, was found being sold by a central Edmonton convenience store. (Supplied) 'The discovery of these brand-new stolen items highlights that in some cases, retail theft has evolved beyond isolated incidents and is now part of an organized system where stolen merchandise is sold at discounts by unscrupulous businesses,' said EPS Sgt. Dana Gehring with Community Safety Teams. The store owner, 26, and an employee, 19, were each charged with:
