Victoria Police say a 52 year old woman is in custody in connection with one of the largest property seizurees in their history. It's so large VicPD's Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) must comb through thousands of exhibits.
In August the CRU began investigating an Esquimalt woman, who is a Norteno associate -- a local group claiming ties to a Northern California gang.
Two months later, with the help of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team, VicPd served a search warrant in the 600-block of Admirals Road seizing thousands of items believed to be obtained through shoplifting, theft from vehicles and break and enters.
Investigators found property inside the residence, in a shipping container, multiple storage lockers and in three vehicles - which were also seized. More storage lockers are being followed up on.
Police also found 4 guns, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl pills and over $17-thousand in cash in the home. The combined value of the drugs is estimated at about $53-thousand. Investigators also located a secret room accessed through a hidden panel in the back of a bedroom closet.
Among the items recovered was stolen property from a 2004 file, and a diary from 1939. Police have been able to trace the daughter of the person who wrote the diary in Aldergrove, and are arranging to return it to her.
Lorraine Anderson, a 52-year-old Esquimalt woman, is facing multiple charges of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of property obtained by crime.