The Abbotsford Police Department says a targeted investigation into a late‑August break‑and‑enter has turned up a large cache of stolen goods, including approximately $20,000 worth of tools, and two men have been charged.
Search warrant leads to arrests
Police say officers were initially called to a reported break‑and‑enter at a business in the 1800 block of Forge Place just before 4 a.m. on Aug. 27. When they arrived, the suspects had already left and some furniture and merchandise were reported missing.
On Sept. 11, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in the 33700 block of Marshall Road. The Abbotsford Police Department says officers located the suspect vehicle and recovered a quantity of stolen property, including hand and power tools estimated at about $20,000.
Two charged with break‑and‑enter
Two men were arrested and later charged in relation to the incident. Police identified them as Mario Jovic, 44, and Richard White, 49, both of whom face break‑and‑enter charges.
- Incident date: Aug. 27 — reported break‑and‑enter at a business on Forge Place
- Search warrant executed: Sept. 11 — Marshall Road residence
- Recovered: suspect vehicle, miscellaneous stolen property, ~$20,000 in tools
- Charged: Mario Jovic, 44; Richard White, 49 — break‑and‑enter
“Anyone with information regarding the stolen tools is encouraged to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at communications@abbypd.ca.”
Who should check for matching property
Police are asking tradespeople, contractors and business owners in Abbotsford and surrounding communities to review their inventories and report if they recognise tools or other items recovered during the search. The department did not publish a detailed inventory, instead asking the public to contact investigators directly.
| Item | Known detail |
|---|---|
| Tools | Approximately $20,000 in value (hand and power tools) |
| Vehicle | Described as the suspect vehicle recovered at Marshall Road residence |
| Charges | Break‑and‑enter for two male suspects (Mario Jovic, 44; Richard White, 49) |
Local context and consequences
For tradespeople and small contractors, stolen tools can mean weeks of lost income and costly replacement bills. Service businesses that rely on specialised equipment can face cancelled jobs and reputational harm if they cannot complete contracted work on time. The recovery of a large quantity of tools will be welcome news to any owner who has been seeking missing equipment, but the onus now rests with police and potential claimants to match items to rightful owners.
Residents are also reminded that items stolen in break‑ins are often dispersed across multiple locations and that police recoveries do not always include clear serial numbers or unique markings. Where possible, the Abbotsford Police Department encourages people to keep detailed records of make, model and serial numbers for tools and other valuable equipment — a measure that can speed reunification when property is recovered.
How to report or claim property
Anyone who believes a recovered item may be theirs is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department communications unit at communications@abbypd.ca. Police will likely require proof of ownership before releasing property and have asked members of the public to refrain from attending the police station without prior contact to arrange identification and release procedures.
The department did not indicate whether further charges are anticipated or whether recovered items are being held as evidence in ongoing proceedings. The investigation is one of a number of property crime probes Abbotsford police have undertaken this year, amid community concern over thefts targeting businesses and vehicles.
As the case proceeds through the justice system, affected businesses and tradespeople are being urged to review security measures and to report suspicious activity promptly to police.
