Autographed Wayne Gretzky jersey valued at $10K stolen from Kelowna, B.C., store

An autographed Wayne Gretzky jersey valued at $10,000 was one of many items stolen from a sports memorabilia store in downtown Kelowna, B.C., according to RCMP.

In a press release, RCMP say they received a call Tuesday morning at 2:10 a.m. reporting a break-in at Player's Choice Sports, located at 470 Cawston Ave.

Police released a photo of the suspect, who they say broke into the shop by smashing its front window with a hammer.

Store co-owner Jason Wobshall says he's still compiling a list of stolen items, but amongthemis an Indianapolis Racers jersey signed by Gretzky. The hockey legendplayed eight games for the Racers of the World Hockey Association in 1978 before joining the Edmonton Oilers.

Wobshall says he still has thecertificate to prove the authenticity of Gretzky's signature. He says the shirt is valued at $10,000 asautographed jerseys are rare.

He adds that several boxes ofsports memorabilia cards worth about $20,000 were alsostolen.

"For them to be stolen like that, that just really sucks," he said.

'The last kick in the butt'

Player's Choice Sports has been vandalized many times during its 18 years of business, including a broken window last November, Wobshall says.

"When we got the notification [that] said that the door had been breached, that was a new one for us," he said. "Both front doors have been splashed and then we realized the back door was left open."

Latest data from Statistics Canada shows that Kelowna recorded a crime severity index of 122.29 in 2021, a rate higher than in Vancouver (81.64), Victoria (71.45) and AbbotsfordMission (78.24).

Despite the expenses associated with repairs, Wobshall says he has never wanted to make an insurance claim, as it willonly increasehis premiums.

"Like so many small businesses, we just eat that," he said. "We weren't surprised at all because [vandalism and break-ins are] just what happens to every downtown business here."

Wobshall says he hopes Tuesday's break-inwas "the last kick in the butt" before his business moves toa new location outside the downtown core. Asoft opening of the new locationat 310 Banks Road is planned for March 1, he says.

Meanwhile, RCMPareasking the public for help to identify the suspect.

"A theft like this causes immense financial harm to a small local business in our community, and the RCMP is going to use every investigational tool possible to find and arrest those responsible,"Kelowna RCMP media relations officer Const. Mike Della-Paolerasaid in a written statement.