2010-06-15
Drew Halfnight
Toronto Police could not confirm a report earlier today that 13 or more of their uniforms had been stolen from dry cleaning shops around the city in the past few days.
The report was posted on 680News.com and cited unnamed Toronto Police sources.
It also said police fear the uniforms could be used by people wishing to misrepresent themselves as officers.
But Toronto Police spokeswoman Meaghan Gray said the incident was not on the books.
“I don’t have any information about any occurrence right now,” she said, adding that the force is always on the alert for reports of stolen police uniforms or identification.
Police duty Staff Sgt. Joel Kulmatycki went a step further and said the report was completely inaccurate. “There are no police uniforms stolen,” he said. “And I’m not playing games with you either. This isn’t like a cat-and-mouse thing where we’re trying to hide anything (from the media).”
The Toronto Police Service has contracts with two dry cleaning stores, Sketchley Cleaners and Cadet Cleaners. Theft has not been an issue in the past at either store, Ms. Gray said.
The unverified report comes less than two weeks before world leaders arrive in Toronto for the G20 summit.