Man nets 22 theft charges in four days: police

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This article was published 13/12/2023 (692 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg police are continuing a crackdown on retail thefts, with officers arresting an alleged repeat shoplifter at a Leila Avenue business Tuesday.

Community support and patrol officers were called to a store on the 800 block, in the Garden City Shopping Centre area, after a man was spotted stealing goods at about 9 p.m., police said Wednesday.

Officers chased a male suspect on foot to a nearby parking lot on the 2300 block of McPhillips Street, where he was arrested.

Property crime investigators linked the suspect to multiple retail thefts in the area beginning in October, including an arrest Dec. 9 for similar alleged offences, police said.

The man had been charged Dec. 9 with 13 counts of theft under $5,000, but was let out by the courts on a release order with conditions.

David Schmidt, 31, was charged Tuesday with another nine counts of theft under $5,000 and two counts of failing to comply with a release order. He’s been detained.

Police estimated the stolen goods in all the incidents are worth more than $23,000.

The Tuesday arrest is the latest after city police announced a targeted effort to cuff serial shoplifters in November, which was prompted by a reported increase in the thefts and concerning violence against store workers and shoppers.

Major crimes Insp. Jennifer McKinnon said at a news conference earlier this month police began by targeting hot spots (such as the Polo Park and Kildonan Crossing areas and downtown) but planned to expand to other areas as the holiday shopping season continued.

McKinnon told reporters Dec. 4 property crime investigators had made 151 such arrests since Nov. 1.

On Wednesday, police spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said he did not have an update on the number of alleged shoplifters arrested since Dec. 4.

City police said property crimes investigators will continue to focus on the initiative, which is a partnership with local business leaders and the Retail Council of Canada, using crime data to focus on problem areas.