Shoplifting ringleader arrested

A man who allegedly recruited others to shoplift power tools for him to sell has been arrested.

Winnipeg police said a 37-year-old man is facing a charge of trafficking in property worth more than $5,000. The man has been released with a promise to appear in court at a later date.

Police said that investigators were tipped off last June that a person was recruiting others to steal name brand power tools from home improvement stores and then using a third party to buy the items so he could then sell them for a profit.

Investigators said the suspect would use social media and text messaging to talk to the people recruited to steal the items.

Police, armed with a search warrant, seized the suspect’s phone on Dec. 9. The crime analyst unit checked the phone and found evidence linking the suspect to the thefts. The man was arrested Thursday.