Stolen goods totalling $1 million recovered at fake hardware store by RCMP in Langley, B.C

Items recovered by Langley RCMP included stolen cars, guns, fake ID's, gasoline and power tools. (Courtesy: Langley RCMP)

Police in Langley, B.C., say they have recovered around $1 million worth of goods, including guns, cars, and power tools, stolen during a series of break-and-enters across the Lower Mainland.

On Dec. 17 the Langley RCMP’s Drugs and Organized Crime Section kickstarted an investigation into the incidents and identified a possible suspect, linked to an address in the 19700 block of 28 Avenue in Langley, police said in a statement Friday.

A search warrant executed Jan. 7 uncovered a “sophisticated organized property crime unit,” said police.

At the property, stolen goods including a “multitude” of power tools, three loaded firearms and 10,000 litres of gasoline were stashed, alongside 10 vehicles - spanning boats, trailers and ATVs - and several machines believed to have produced fake ID’s and vehicle identification numbers (VIN), said police.

“The sophisticated design of a large outbuilding resembled a hardware store that had been strategically established as a resale operation,” said Sgt. Zynal Sharoom.

Eight people were arrested following the search and have since been released pending further investigation, said police.

As officers continue to work to find the rightful owners of the seized items, anyone who has purchased goods from the area of the 19700 block of 28 Avenue, after responding to advertisements on social media, are asked to contact the Langley RCMP and quote file number 2024-40997.