Two men have been charged after police found illegal tobacco, weapons and stolen goods at an Edmonton convenience store. Police said the store near 106 Avenue and 97 Street was “known” to be selling illegal cigarettes. An Edmonton Police Service (EPS) community safety team searched the store on April 17 and found an estimated $3,125 in contraband cigarettes and 50 illegal knives. Officers also found about $4,500 worth of stolen brand-name clothing, including: EPS said it has identified an increasing trend in convenience stores operating in a similar way, which it said is having a “significant” impact on the local community and other businesses. “The discovery of these brand-new stolen items highlights that in some cases, retail theft has evolved beyond isolated incidents and is now part of an organized system where stolen merchandise is sold at discounts by unscrupulous businesses,” said EPS Sgt. Dana Gehring with Community Safety Teams. The store owner, 26, and an employee, 19, were each charged with:
