But that is just one of many allegations in the case, which also includes a tenant dispute, a related court case and the theft of a no-parking sign.

Police said they are currently conducting a thorough investigation into what is believed to be the largest marijuana theft from a licensed cannabis shop in New York.

No arrests have been made in connection with the break-in that occurred at the cannabis shop 716 on Electric Avenue, police and victims told The Buffalo News on Friday.

Whoever stole the cannabis products had enough inside information and equipment to open several locked doors, disable two security camera systems and use a numeric code to open a walk-in vault from which the products were stolen, said co-owner John Duncan.

Duncan said the intruder or intruders stole more than 6,000 items, more than three-quarters of the store’s inventory, including gummy bears, cannabis flower and vaporizers.

“I think the police know who did it, but they are dragging their feet and refusing to arrest anyone,” said Duncan, who runs the store with his wife, Ashley Brown.

Duncan declined to name the person he suspects of the crime, but told The News he hired a private investigator who he believes was able to identify the thief.

Police Chief John Payne told The News he did not want to give details of the investigation, but disputed Duncan’s claim that police knew who committed the crime and were hesitant to make an arrest.

“I would absolutely deny that we are dragging our feet,” Payne said. “We’re not just looking to arrest someone; we want an arrest that leads to a conviction. We’re doing everything right… It’s not unusual for a criminal investigation to take months, sometimes years.”

Another interested party spoke to The News about the case on Friday. He is 716 Cannabis’ landlord, Michael Ritchie Jr.

Ritchie, who owns the building where the break-in occurred, said he and Duncan have been involved in a heated legal battle over the property for more than a year. He accused Duncan of trying to frame him for the theft of nearly $400,000 worth of marijuana products.

“Absolutely not, I had nothing to do with it,” Ritchie told The News. “But John Duncan told the police and other people that I did it.”

Ritchie said police questioned him at length about the crime. He said he took a polygraph test – commonly known as a lie detector – months ago at the police’s request.

“After the lie detector test, the police told me I was innocent,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie, who runs a towing business that tows vehicles for Blasdell police and other police agencies, said he also voluntarily allowed police to search his towing business for signs of stolen marijuana.

“And I also gave them permission to take a drug-sniffing dog to one of my properties in Franklinville,” Ritchie said. “They searched that, too, and found nothing.”

When asked about Ritchie’s comments, Payne told a reporter he “would not dispute” Ritchie’s statement, but declined to comment further.

Duncan declined to discuss whether he suspects Ritchie of committing the crime. Duncan said he didn’t want to make the dispute with his landlord any worse than it already is.

Although neither Ritchie nor Duncan mentioned it in interviews, state court records show that Ritchie filed suit against 716 Cannabis on May 24, accusing 716 Cannabis of breaking a promise related to a lease.

According to Ritchie’s lawsuit, 716 Cannabis leased 850 square feet of retail space from Ritchie in 2023 and agreed to pay him 10 percent of monthly net profits.

Last year, Ritchie said, at Duncan and Brown’s request, he spent $90,000 to expand the building and add 3,700 square feet of space for the cannabis shop.

According to the lawsuit, Duncan and Brown agreed to sign a new lease with a higher guaranteed payment to Ritchie, but then refused to sign the new lease.

“Because 716 CANNABIS LLC. refused to enter into a new lease, the defendant has wrongfully occupied a retail space more than four times the size of the space it contracted for, thereby unjustly enriching itself since opening in January 2024,” Ritchie stated in his lawsuit.

When asked about the lawsuit, Duncan said, “We have not broken any laws ethically, morally or legally.”

Last month, Blasdell officers arrested Duncan on a complaint filed by Ritchie for petty theft and criminal damage. Duncan said Ritchie accused him of stealing a “No Parking” sign. Blasdell police confirmed Duncan has been charged in that case.

Duncan said the “no parking” signs were intended to harass his customers. Ritchie denied that allegation.

When asked if insurance would cover his losses from the theft, Duncan said, “That’s one of the things we’re still working on.”