Police are asking the public for help in locating more than $23,000 worth of new appliances that were stolen from a southeast Calgary business in late December.

Patricia Warner, general manager of Bowest Appliances on 106th Ave. and Barlow Trail S.W., said she was "devastated" when the business discovered one of its semi-trailers was missing on Dec. 29, 2017.

"It was just gone. In 17 years I've never seen anything like this," she said.

The company had stored its excess inventory on the trailer which was parked just out of sight of their warehouse's cameras.

Inside were 55 brand new washing machines and six chest freezers, police said in a Facebook post.

On Jan. 31, someone spotted the trailer, sitting with two parking tickets that had been left on it.

But, when police arrived and opened it up, it was completely empty.

Warner said it would have taken a large truck to move the trailer, not to mention multiple people to carry out the appliances and a warehouse to store them in.

"They had to know what they were doing," Warner said.

Police are looking to speak with anyone who has been approached to purchase or has purchased one of the following makes/models of the stolen appliances from a private seller:

Whirlpool Amana top-loading washing machine (Model: NTW4516FW)

Danby Diplomat 7.0 cubic-foot capacity freezers (Model: DCFM070WM)

CPS said in on Twitter that while they do look at online classified ads and pawn shops for stolen items, the unusual size of this theft has them casting a wider net.

Anyone with information can call Calgary police's non-emergency line at 403-266-1234, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.