Suspects took kid to crimes: police

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This article was published 21/03/2024 (567 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City police are seeking two shoplifting suspects they said had a child with them during some of the thefts.

The Winnipeg Police Service’s property crime unit started an investigation in January into a series of thefts that began at retail stores in early December.

A man and a woman are being sought in connection with eight incidents in which products and groceries were stolen from three stores between December and February.

Police said two people hit a store on the 800 block of Regent Avenue four times — on Dec. 6, Dec. 16, Jan. 14 and Jan. 18. The thieves made off with a total of $1,300 worth of items.

Suspects stole about $40 in items from a store on the 300 block of McPhillips Street on Jan. 25 before targeting a store on the 1600 block of Kenaston Boulevard three times last month. Suspects stole a total of $355 worth of items from the Kenaston store on Feb. 3, Feb. 12 and Feb. 18.

Police said Thursday a child under age 10 was present during four of the eight incidents. Const. Claude Chancy, a spokesman for the WPS, said this is not the first time police have investigated adults who take young children along when committing crimes.

“It is something that we have seen in the past. At the end of day, we have adults that are at times engaging in criminal acts with children that appear to be in their care,” he said.

“It’s something that is very concerning to the WPS.”

The WPS identified the suspects in the eight shoplifting incidents as Lorne Quintin Flett, 44, and Lena Rose Romero, 41, and have obtained warrants for their arrests.

Police, who released images of the pair, are asking anyone who knows where the suspects are to call property crime investigators at 204-986-2426 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).

A man was arrested and later charged in a Feb. 12 incident in which a suspect robbed a store on the 1100 block of Main Street and placed stolen goods in the backpack of a young boy he was with. Police arrested the man after a foot chase and said they found a CO2-powered handgun and a machete on him.

Officers arrested a man and five youths at about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday after another incident of retail theft in which young people were involved.

Police were told a group of youths had stolen three machetes and throwing knives from Cabela’s on Sterling Lyon Parkway before fleeing on foot to the Outlet Collection Winnipeg mall across the street.

Officers arrested six people in the mall and seized three 18-inch machetes and a pack of eight-inch throwing knives.

A 21-year-old man and two boys, ages 16 and 13, have been charged with possession of a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and theft under $5,000. All three were released by way of undertakings. Officers also arrested three girls, ages 16, 15 and 15. One of the younger girls was detained in custody on the strength of an unendorsed warrant, while the other two were issued trespassing notices and released without being charged.

The WPS also arrested a man for stealing sunglasses from Outlet Collection earlier that day and linked him to previous mall thefts.

Officers were sent to the mall at about 2 p.m. and saw a suspect fleeing.

Police followed on foot, tracked a suspect to the 1700 block of Taylor Avenue and arrested him. The WPS said officers found three pairs of sunglasses valued at about $1,400 in his possession.

Police have since linked the man to 10 previous thefts at the same mall, Polo Park and St. Vital Centre. He stole a total of more than $16,400 in products – including sunglasses, watches and clothing – in 11 incidents beginning in early February, the WPS said.

A 26-year-old Winnipeg man was charged with 11 counts of theft under $5,000 and detained in custody.

adam.treusch@freepress.mb.ca