Man accused in summer shoplifting spree arrested

Winnipeg police have charged a man accused in a spree of shoplifting incidents this summer, who was detained by store security after allegedly attempting to leave a shop with merchandise on Wednesday evening.

A suspect selected $795 worth of clothes from a store in Grant Park Shopping Centre and only paid for a pair of socks before he tried to leave. Security guards held him and called for police.

Winnipeg Police Service patrol officers arrested the suspect and turned him over to property crime detectives, who linked the suspect to seven prior thefts from stores in July and August, police said on Thursday. The thefts were all caught on store surveillance cameras and reported to police.

The suspect is accused of stealing around $6,800 worth of goods throughout the spree, from stores on Empress Street, Kenaston Boulevard, Pembina Highway and Portage Avenue. The thief mostly stole clothing, but also shoes in one incident and perfume in another.

A 42-year-old man has been charged with several counts of theft under $5,000 and has been held in custody ahead of court.