Richmond RCMP have laid charges against a couple after police raided their family home and removed a truckload of stolen toys.
Alyssa John, 35, faced eight charges of theft under $5,000 Tuesday morning and her husband, Darren, also 35, faced five similar charges. The charges stem from alleged shoplifting incidents dating as far back as July and ranging over several days. It included toys and children's clothing.
Alyssa John, who lives in the 4700 block of Steveston Highway, then allegedly sold the stolen items online to families predominantly in the Richmond area through the "Steveston Kid Swap and Shop" Facebook page.
At the time the News first reported on the story last month, pictures of the Oct. 1 raid - posted on the Facebook page before being taken down shortly after - led to a flurry of calls to RCMP from worried parents concerned about being in possession of stolen goods.
Due to the nature of identifying the stolen toys, they won't be repossessed from parents, but Cpl. Stephanie Ashton warned repossession without compensation is always a risk when buying online.
"When you buy online and the deal seems too good to be true, you are probably dealing with someone who has obtained those items through crime," she said.
The RCMP are now looking for ways to donate the toys that can't be returned to stores - due to lack of identification - to families in need, according to Ashton. Contact [email protected] with any information.
