Three accused of stealing $10K in goods from city stores arrested

Two people accused of chronic shoplifting have been arrested following an investigation into a string of retail thefts across the city, aided in part by a Crime Stoppers tip.

Investigators linked a 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman to 12 theft incidents reported between March and May at retail stores across the city, a Winnipeg Police Service news release said Friday.

Police allege the stolen merchandise totalled more than $7,400. The incidents, which involved one or both suspects, were captured on store surveillance cameras and reported to police.

Police said information submitted through Winnipeg Crime Stoppers helped investigators identify the suspects, leading to arrest warrants.

Dillon Middleton, 31, was arrested Monday during an unrelated call for service in the 800 block of Main Street. The woman was arrested later the same day in the 700 block of Aberdeen Avenue.

Middleton faces 12 counts of theft under $5,000 and was detained in custody pending further court proceedings. The woman has been charged with nine counts of theft under $5,000 and was released on an undertaking with a future court date.

Meanwhile, another Winnipeg man is facing multiple theft charges after being linked to a series of shoplifting incidents at a retail store in the city’s North End.

Police arrested Thomas Mervin Cook, 31, on Tuesday, after loss prevention officers detained him at a store on the 2300 block of McPhillips Street for allegedly attempting to steal merchandise.

Police say Cook was connected to six theft incidents at the same store between April 28 and May 12. Investigators allege merchandise valued at more than $3,100 was stolen during the incidents, all of which were captured on surveillance video and reported to police.

Cook has been charged with six counts of theft under $5,000. He was also arrested on four outstanding warrants, including fail to appear and fail to comply with a probation order.

He remains in custody.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca