Police reel in three alleged serial shoplifters separately accused in dozens of thefts worth more than $60,000

Police put handcuffs on three men this week who are accused of separate, lengthy shoplifting sprees in which thousands of dollars in goods were stolen from city stores in recent months.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Claude Chancy characterized the accused shoplifters as “career criminals” who are well-known to investigators.

“Even though these are not crimes committed directly against people, they do affect businesses in a larger scale,” said Chancy.

“The costs automatically get passed onto consumers like you or I… we all have to work hard for the things that we purchase and it’s a little demoralizing when you see people that are… for whatever reason, leaving stores with unpaid merchandise.”

He said when merchandise is stolen at a large scale, it’s typically for resale or trade.

John Graham, the Retail Council of Canada’s director for the Prairies, applauded the arrests and the recent police focus on serial shoplifters.

“We feel like we’re slowly making a dent in what was — what continues to be — an issue of concern for most retailers,” said Graham.

“It sends a great signal to the retail community that the police care and are taking action.”

The latest arrest, Bretton James Towle, 33, was picked up by officers patrolling the Regent Avenue West area Wednesday.

Police were called to a store that Towle is accused of repeatedly stealing from previously, after he was spotted by staff. Officers pulled him over as he was driving away.

Property crimes investigators linked him to two dozen thefts or attempted thefts at stores across the city — on Regent Avenue West, Abinojii Mikanah, Kenaston Boulevard and Empress Street — dating back to September. Many of the locations were hit more than once.

He’s accused of stealing everything from tools and construction materials to Christmas ornaments. Towle, police said, stole the merchandise by scanning items of “much lesser value” at self-checkout terminals as cover.

The goods, altogether, are worth more than $10,000, police said.

Investigators also seized four knives, 23 grams of what’s suspected to be meth and the Dodge Charger Towle was driving.

He’s been charged with theft over $5,000, weapons offences and possession of a scheduled substance. Towle was also processed on two RCMP warrants and received tickets for driving without a valid licence.

He was held in custody.

“It sends a great signal to the retail community that the police care and are taking action.”

Earlier this week, William Jack Joseph Plante, 38, was spotted at a Mountain Avenue grocery store by a security guard who recognized him from a Crime Stoppers wanted list.

Plante walked into the store at about 11:20 a.m. and the guard quickly called 911, police said.

Officers arrived soon after and arrested him. Investigators then linked him to 19 retail thefts across the city, dating as far back as August.

He’s accused of stealing power tools, clothing and electronics from stores on McPhillips Street, Sterling Lyon Parkway, Kenaston Boulevard, Leila Avenue and Regent Avenue West. He is alleged to have stolen repeatedly from the same stores.

The goods were worth nearly $24,000 combined, police said, noting the unusual theft of three mattresses and two duvets from a Sterling Lyon Parkway store on Sept. 21.

Chancy didn’t have the details, but said the thief likely used a dolly to make off with packaged mattresses.

Plante has a minor criminal record. In 2023 he pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon, mischief to property and three counts of failing to appear in court. He was sentenced to 44 days served and 18 months supervised probation.

Court heard he had a history of substance abuse issues for which he had never sought treatment.

On Monday, another accused serial shoplifter was picked up on Pacific Avenue just hours after he allegedly stole for the eighth time from an Empress Street store.

Police said Ryan Joseph Campbell, 40, is accused in a string of 19 thefts dating back to March, many of which occurred at the same stores. The combined value of the stolen goods is more than $25,000.

He is accused of stealing grocery products and “high-ticket” goods for online resale, such as power tools and pressure washers, police have said. Campbell is charged with a lengthy list of thefts under $5,000 and was also arrested on several other warrants.

He allegedly hit stores on Osborne Street, Abinojii Mikanah, Kenaston Boulevard, Empress Street, Leila Avenue and Mountain Avenue.

Campbell has a limited criminal record in Manitoba, with his most recent convictions — public mischief and a court order breach — dating back to 2012. Additional court order breaches dating back as far as 2013 are still pending.

Home Depot’s Leila Avenue location was among the big box stores repeatedly hit by the thieves.

A spokesperson for the hardware giant, who did not give their name, said in an email the company is grateful for the “partnership and dedication” of Winnipeg police in investigating organized retail theft and protecting the public.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca