A Barrie teen was charged on Tuesday after he attempted to steal a highly valuable hockey card during a transaction stemming from a Facebook Marketplace listing.
Police say the suspect directed the seller to meet shortly before 6:30 p.m. outside an address located in the southeast end of the city. It was later confirmed that the location was not his residence.
The suspect reportedly took multiple photographs of the collectible during the interaction, and when the seller briefly diverted his attention, the suspect grabbed the card from his hand and fled on foot toward a wooded trail.
Police say officers obtained video surveillance, and eventually identified the suspect as a 16-year-old Barrie resident.
When police visited the youth’s residence, he answered the door wearing the same outfit seen in the surveillance footage. He was subsequently taken into custody and the card was recovered.
The youth was charged with theft over $5,000.
The card in question was a PSA grade-10 2024 Upper Deck Macklin Celebrini #451, a rookie card of the NHL's San Jose Sharks' star forward.
"With Facebook Marketplace and other online platforms making it easier than ever to connect with buyers and sellers, convenience should never replace caution," Barrie Police said in a release. "While many transactions are completed without issue, a person’s online profile, messages, or apparent knowledge of an item don’t guarantee their intentions."
"This incident is a reminder that an opportunistic thief can strike in a split second."
The identity of the youth involved is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).
Barrie Police remind the public and media partners not to post or share identifying details of youths involved in criminal incidents. Under the YCJA, publicly posting or sharing a young offender’s name, photo, school, or other distinguishing details is a serious offence. These restrictions apply to social media, digital publications, and broadcasting.
