Owners of stolen collector’s items recovered in Calgary drug sting asked to come forward: police

Police are hoping to find the owners of a number of collector’s items that were seized from a southwest Calgary home. Investigators believe the stolen items were offered as payment in exchange for drugs.

Officers made an arrest after watching a suspect conduct “various drug transactions” over a nine-day period.

The tactical unit searched the home in the 1800 block of 34 Ave. S.W on Feb. 28. Police said officers recovered a cache of drugs, weapons and stolen property that included the collector’s items.

The collector’s items stolen from the home included:

• An autographed and framed Gordie Howe Jersey
• An autographed Tragically Hip picture
• An autographed Sass Jordan electric guitar
• Vintage comic books
• Hockey and trading cars
• Antique watches

The drugs police recovered from the home had a street value of about $23,000 and included cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and cannabis. Drug paraphernalia, including scales and baggies, was also recovered along with counterfeit U.S. currency, two mountain bikes and a cache of weapons including three handguns, a rifle and a shotgun, as well as knives and swords.

Police say two of the guns were stolen.

John Christopher Fraser, 43, faces a string of drugs and weapons-related charges. He’s also charged with possession of stolen property under $5,000 and possession of counterfeit money.

Police are asking anyone who had these collector’s items taken from them to call the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.