UPDATE: Fort St. John police seek help recovering stolen antlers, hides, ammunition

UPDATE: The Fort St. John RCMP clarified the property was not abandoned, but temporarily unoccupied at the time of the theft.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A Fort St. John RCMP investigation is underway into the theft of trophy antlers, animal hides and ammunition from a property earlier in the month.

On February 9th, 2024, the police received a report of a residential break-in at a property on the 8200 block of 98th Street.

Officers attended and found the rear door had been kicked in and various items had been stolen from the residence.

The Fort St. John RCMP says the property is abandoned but didn’t go into further detail in a press release. Energeticcity.ca has attempted to contact the detachment multiple times.

Stolen items included 14 mule and whitetail deer antlers, one cinnamon-coloured black bear hide, one grey-coloured wolf hide, one mountain sheep hide, one mountain goat hide and boxes of .22 calibre ammunition.

According to the RCMP, the antlers are in a European mount style, some with full skulls and others with only partial skulls attached to a metal wall mount stand.

“This collection represents years of trophy hunts and fond memories to the family,” said Constable Chad Neustaeter, media relations officer for the Fort St John RCMP. 

“Any assistance the public can provide in potentially recovering these items would be greatly appreciated.”

The RCMP is asking if anyone saw anything suspicious in the 8200 block of 98th Street area or if anyone has seen or heard about someone who has a new collection of antlers or hides to reach out to the local detachment.

Police also ask anyone to watch out for the culprit trying to sell the stolen items.

The Fort St. John RCMP continues to investigate and asks anyone with information to contact the detachment at 250-787-8100 or their local detachment.

To remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers can be contacted at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca.