Hockey playing cops -- in Canada

Hockey-playing police have wallets, badges stolen
Apr. 5, 2006. 03:47 PM
CURTIS RUSH
STAFF REPORTER THESTAR.COM

In a case of brazen thievery, akin to sticking one's head inside a lion's den and taking its food, someone picked the pockets of five off-duty York Region police officers in less than an hour while they were enjoying a friendly game of pickup hockey on Monday at an Aurora arena.

While the officers were passing the puck around at the Aurora Community Centre, someone was inside their dressing room playing their own game of clutch-and-grab.

While admitting it's embarrassing, police say they are concerned that someone now has possession of their wallets, police badges and warrant cards.

They are warning that someone could be going around impersonating a police officer with the stolen badges.

The theft took place on Monday between 11 a.m. and 12:10 p.m., police say.

The officers had locked the change room at the Aurora Community Centre, leaving their wallets in their pants pockets hanging up.

What they didn't realize was that an adjoining washroom door was unlocked, and that's where the thief or thieves entered while the officers were playing hockey.

Inside their wallets, in addition to credit cards and personal identification, were the victims’ police badges and warrant cards that would identify the officer. The warrant cards, which are issued by the province and authorize the carrier to be a police officer, have photo ID but the badges don't.

"There was a mutual washroom through two change rooms and that must have been left open. They weren't aware of that," Const. Laurie Perks said today.

"They thought that by locking the door, their wallets were safe."

York Regional Police are hoping that someone knows something and will phone in the tip that will see the officers' badges returned.

No one has tried to use any of the stolen credit cards.

The arena didn't have video surveillance.

Police say it's doubtful the officers will receive any kind of discipline because they are required to carry their badges and police ID even when off-duty.

Police in most instances aren't allowed to carry weapons off duty. None was packing a firearm.

The Chief of Police was not available for comment.

Police will not reveal the names or division where the officers worked.