The victim had his collectors items in storage while his family moved to Emma Lake. (Submitted)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Gretzky memorabilia theft results in community sentence and $1,000 fine

Sep 19, 2024 | 2:05 PM

A man who broke into a storage container and stole another man’s extensive Wayne Gretzky memorabilia collection will get to serve his sentence in the community and has been ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution.

Derek Herzog, 43, was sentenced on Aug. 6 at Shellbrook court. An access to records was received by paNOW on Tuesday.

It’s believed the theft occurred sometime between November 2021 and March 2022, but it wasn’t until April 2022 when the victim realized someone stole around $100,000 worth of his Gretzky collectibles from a storage container on a farm near Shellbrook.

When previously interviewed by paNOW, the victim expressed his belief the theft was targeted because the storage container wasn’t easily accessible. The thieves used a shovel to get through the snow to it and special equipment to get through tamper-proof locks. They also didn’t take other valuable items like a fridge, couch, computer, garage tools and expensive cookware.

On Feb. 18, 2023, after an extension investigation, police executed a search warrant at home in Shellbrook and were able to recover some of the collection, as well as a 2012 snowmobile trailer belonging to Parks Canada which was from an unrelated incident.

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Herzog was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property obtained by crime.

Among the stolen collection items were signed pictures of Gretzky holding the Stanley Cup, as well as large pictures and paintings, sticks, pucks in display cases that were also autographed, and close to 10,000 hockey cards; 2,200 of which were of Gretzky alone.

There was also a framed Gretzky rookie card, plates, helmets, masks, and skates among many other things. Autographed Sidney Crosby memorabilia was also taken, along with Joe Sakic and Joe Thornton jerseys.

As part of his six-month community sentence order and 18 months of probation, Herzog is required to keep the peace, abide by a curfew, not possess or consume alcohol and stay in Saskatchewan unless he has written permission from the court or a supervisor.

He’s also prohibited from having any sort of contact with the victim.

If any of his conditions are not followed, Herzog could potentially serve the remainder of his sentence in jail.

When paNOW reached out to the victim for comment, he noted that only about $20 worth of his collection had been returned and the rest likely sold. He referred to the sentence as a “slap on the wrist.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell