Fearful and sore after thwarting dollar-store thief

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This article was published 21/12/2023 (666 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kathy-Lynn Teles is angry after being assaulted and having her life threatened by a shoplifter who accused her of ruining Christmas.

Now, the 60-year-old Teles, who is on disability benefits, is fearful the woman will soon be out on bail.

“I already have back issues and pain to begin with,” Teles said Thursday, one day after the attack. “I had just got over COVID and I was in hospital for two weeks.

“Now my back is all messed up. I have a bit of swelling under my eye where she punched me in the face. All I was doing was going there to shop. I realize now I was trying to go in the wrong door when she was trying to go out with a cart full of stuff and I got in her way.

“In retrospect, maybe I should have just opened the door and let her out.”

On Thursday, Winnipeg police officers reported they have made 132 theft-related arrests this month as part of a crackdown on shoplifters in partnership with the Retail Council of Canada and the city’s business community.

In the update, police said the arrests had taken place in locations across the city.

“This proactive effort was initiated to address the serious issue of shoplifting, including the threat of injury to staff and the general public, including the financial loss incurred by various retail outlets within the city,” a news release said.

John Graham, the Retail Council of Canada’s director of government relations for the Prairies, said losses caused by shoplifting add up to big dollars in Manitoba and across the country.

“Our estimate is $170 million is lost through Manitoba retail stores,” Graham said.

“Retailers invest millions of dollars into staff training and equipment to reduce and delay shoplifting. We don’t want the public to put themselves at risk.

“We wish the best for this individual,” he said in reference to Teles.

In Teles’s case, she said she’d gone to the Dollarama store, at 1650 Main St., near Jefferson Avenue, around 3 p.m. to buy a few Christmas items.

She was trying to go through the exit door when she saw the woman rushing towards her. The woman, who was pushing a cart full of merchandise, was trying to dodge two employees.

Teles said the woman punched her, grabbed her hair and tried unsuccessfully to force her to the ground before going outside empty-handed. That’s when she threatened her.

“She said she was going to follow me home and kill me,” Teles said. “She stayed there yelling at me for 20 minutes until police came.

“She said she was upset I was ruining her Christmas. She said she just wanted to have a good Christmas.”

Teles said she was most upset when police officers told her what would happen after they arrested the woman.

“They said she would be released right away because there isn’t enough space in jail for all these robbers,” she said.

“They said they let them go so they can be out for Christmas.”

A Winnipeg police spokeswoman confirmed a suspect was arrested at the scene.

Amanda West, 34, has been charged with robbery, assault and uttering threats.

West, who court officials confirmed has been in custody since her arrest, will make her first appearance in court Friday.

A witness, who asked not to be identified, said the incident happened quickly.

“The woman pushed through and started punching her,” the woman said.

“I asked (Teles) if she was OK and she said no. When I looked out, I saw the woman and I said (to Teles) you should go to the back. You’re not safe here.”

A national spokesperson for Dollarama could not be reached for comment.

Teles said she understands what it is like to make ends meet on a limited budget.

“I’ve managed to make it without shoplifting,” she said.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca