Police are on the lookout for a trio of suspects they believe responsible for the theft of 16 smartphones from a local retailer.
The Prince George RCMP received the report from a 15th Avenue business on May 18 about the heist that occurred the previous evening.
After reviewing surveillance footage, investigators believe the group worked together with one person distracting staff while two others entered a storage room and removed the phones.
The first suspect is described as a black male, 35 to 40 years old, of average height and weighing 180 to 190 lbs. He had short, dark hair and facial stubble and was wearing a grey zip up Under Armour sweater and a black Toronto Blue Jays ball cap.
The second suspect is a Caucasian female between 40 and 50 years old. She is below average height with long red hair and was wearing a purple patterned top and a black sweater.
The third suspect is another black male, between 30 and 40 years old, of average height and weighing between 170 and 180 lbs. He also had short, dark hair and sported a moustache and goatee. He was wearing a light-coloured v-neck T-shirt.
The total value of the items stolen is $13,388. They were:
n Two white Samsung Galaxy S4 phones
n Two black Samunsung Galaxy S4 phones
n Two black iPhone 5 16GB phones
n Three white iPhone 5 16GB phones
n Three black iPhone 5 32GB phones
n Two white iPhone 5 32 GB phones
n Two BlackBerry Q10 phones
According to police, investigators have been unable to identify the suspects and do not believe they are from the Prince George area.
"This was a well-planned and brazen theft carried out by persons that likely have committed similar offences in other communities," said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Craig Douglass. "Prince George RCMP are in the process of contacting other detachments and municipal forces throughout B.C. and Alberta in hopes of identifying the suspects."
Investigators would also like to speak to any member of the public that might be able to identify the suspects or provide more information. Contact the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477, online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca or Text-A-Tip to CRIMES using keyword "pgtips."
