A service issued patrol rifle removed from a civilian vehicle in early April has been located following what Calgary Police Service officials refer to as a complex investigation.

On the evening of April 4, an off-duty member of the CPS parked his vehicle in the Crowfoot Crossing Shopping Centre. Inside the vehicle was a locked hard-covered carrying case containing a C-8 patrol rifle and two magazines with 28 rounds in each.

While the officer was inside a restaurant, someone gained entry into the vehicle and removed the case.

On April 15, the missing rifle was recovered by police at an undisclosed location.

“Right now we have no information to lead us to believe that this firearm has been used in the commission of any offences. When the firearm was seized by our investigators it was immediately sent for forensic examination and we’re going to wait for the results back on that. that will help tell us if in fact the weapon’s been discharged and then we’ll have to look at collaboratively what’s been happening in the community since then as well,” S/Sgt. Jason Walker of the CPS Guns & Gangs Unit.

Walker says the recovery was the result of the execution of a search warrant on a northeast residence.

“In this instance, we knew what we were looking for absolutely,” he said.

Police also found the magazines but are still looking for the case the rifle was in.

The police investigation into the theft of the rifle continues and investigators continue to seek information pertaining to a suspect vehicle recorded on surveillance camera.

“We’re relieved that we got this thing back. We’re not proud, we’re relieved because we get that we lost more than the rifle when it was taken, there was some trust and confidence issues there and a big part of this was getting both the rifle back and looking to restore that kind of trust and confidence because we need that. Everything we do here proactively relies on help from the public and me standing here telling you we got this thing back in no small part was because the public stepped up and helped us out, in a lot of different ways, we had over a dozen tips that came in that we were able to cobble together with what we learned along the way to help get us here today,” said Walker.

The paid suspension of the CPS member remains in place.

Anyone with information about the theft of the rifle or the identity of the suspects is asked to contact one of the following: