The unmarked car, handgun, uniform and body armour of an OPP officer stationed outside of Cornwall were stolen early Tuesday after her house was burglarized.
The officer works out of the OPP’s intelligence bureau in Long Sault.
When she woke up at 1:30 a.m., she noticed her car keys were missing, along with her car that had been parked in the driveway.
The 2005 Chrysler Sebring was located nearly 12 hours later about 15 km east on Alice St. in Cornwall.
Inside, police found the officer’s OPP-issued winter jacket, but her 40-calibre Sig Sauer firearm and three clips of ammunition — which were secured in a lock box — were gone, along with pepper spray and handcuffs.
Her body amour, OPP shirt and pants were also stolen.
“It’s a major issue,” said OPP Insp. Dave Springer. “We’re working very closely with criminal investigators, a forensics unit and Cornwall police.”
Police weren’t ruling out the officer had been targeted but said nothing supports the theory.
“All aspects are under investigation, clearly. But to use the word target, no. I can’t use that word,” said Sgt. Kristine Rae, OPP spokeswoman for the eastern region.
She said police have no suspects.
The area has plenty of crime with the smuggling of contraband cigarettes, drugs, guns and people through Akwesasne, said RCMP spokesman Michael Harvey.
He said it hasn’t been uncommon for police vehicles to be vandalized or stolen.
“We, the Cornwall RCMP detachment, have had our vehicles vandalized and that was due to our pressures on the organized crime groups that operate in the area. We are familiar with vehicles being damaged or stolen,” said Harvey.
He said it hasn’t happened lately because they’ve taken steps to protect their cruisers, but the day after they seized $500,000 US in 2005, five of their cars had their tires and lights stolen.
While most OPP officers are not allowed to bring service vehicles home, Springer said there are exceptions.
Springer said it is acceptable to secure a firearm in a vehicle lockbox under some circumstances. How the firearm was stored is still under investigation, he added.
Anyone with information should call police at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 613-534-4130.
kenneth.jackson@sunmedia.ca
