Cocaine stolen from Burnaby evidence locker

Metro Vancouver, metronews.ca
BYLINE: MATT KIELTYKA, METRO VANCOUVER
Link to Article

Burnaby, BC, Canada

A City of Burnaby employee has been fired and charged with theft for allegedly stealing cocaine out of RCMP evidence storage.

Burnaby RCMP announced yesterday that Gary Read, a 56-year-old resident of Burnaby and a city employee, has been charged with a single count of theft.

The alleged theft was discovered when police conducted an audit of the Burnaby detachment in the spring and noticed that 500 grams of cocaine was missing from a drug exhibit.

Police launched an investigation that led to Read — who had oversight of the exhibits — being charged.

Chief Supt. Dave Critchley said the detachment has revised its policy and procedures to prevent a similar incident in the future.

Deputy city manager Rick Earle said Read, a longtime city employee, has been terminated from his job.

Read is expected to appear in Vancouver provincial court on Dec. 13.

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