‘Prolific shoplifter’ facing nearly 40 charges in spree that began in March

A 44-year-old man, described by police as a “prolific shoplifter,” is in custody after investigators identified him as a suspect in multiple thefts and robberies dating back to March.

The man is accused of stealing in at least eight incidents that began March 21, resulting in dozens of charges. The total value of stolen goods is estimated at $3,000, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Monday.

The spree ended in a pursuit just before 10:30 a.m. Saturday, when officers patrolling on the 800 block of Main Street spotted the man on a bicycle, and he tried to flee, the release said. He was arrested after a chase.

Police said $700 in store merchandise was seized.

According to the release, the man is believed to be involved in an incident at a retail store on the 1500 block of Regent Avenue, which reported the theft of merchandise earlier that day.

Six days earlier, a retailer on the 1600 block of Regent Avenue reported an employee was assaulted while attempting to stop the suspect from leaving the business with stolen goods, the WPS said.

The suspect is believe to have stolen from a business on the same block on Aug. 23, and another business on the 1500 block of Regent Avenue on Aug. 21, police said.

On Aug. 18, a retail store in the 1-99 block of Reenders Drive reported the attempted theft of store merchandise. On Aug. 5, a store on the same block reported a theft. The same day, a retailer on the 700 block of Henderson Highway reported stolen goods, police said.

The first incident, on March 21, also involved a retail store on the 700 block of Henderson Highway.

The suspect is facing 36 charges related to robbery, theft under $5,000 and breaching probation and release conditions. Police also executed four arrests warrants that included 41 additional charges, 16 of which were theft-related, the WPS said.

A review of court records showed the man has a handful of previous convictions related to theft and other crimes.

He pleaded guilty on Nov. 7, 2024, to charges of theft under $5,000 for three thefts in July and August of that year, and another theft in November of 2023. He also pleaded guilty for failing to attend court.

He was given a suspended sentence, and ordered to complete 12 months of supervised probation.

In January 2017, the man pleaded guilty to forcible entry in an incident from October 2016 and received a conditional sentence order.

His only other conviction dates back to 2001, when he pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The suspect remains in custody.

—With files from Erik Pindera

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca