Retail Theft Blitz Results in Multiple Arrests, Property Recovered and a Drug Seizure

In December 2024, members of the Sarnia Police Service, in collaboration with local retailers (owners, managers and loss prevention), conducted a 4-day retail theft project.  The purpose of this project was to address community concerns pertaining to thievery and to enhance both customer and employee safety.  Additional SPS resources were deployed to be available on project dates, facilitating timely arrests and processing of criminal offenders.    

This project, running on four dates, resulted in multiple arrests/charges along with 3 outstanding arrest warrants being executed. Police also recovered stolen items valued at $2500.

The following individuals were charged as a result of this initiative:

December 4, 2024 

• a 28 year old of Sarnia, had an outstanding arrest warrant from November 2023 for assault, assault causing bodily harm and forcible confinement.  He was held for bail and will appear in court next on January 16^th 2025.

• a 42 year old of Sarnia, was arrested for shoplifting during which time he assaulted a loss prevention officer.  He was released on an undertaking to appear in court on January 14, 2025  charged with theft under $5000 and assault.

• A 42-year-old male from Sarnia, was arrested for trespassing after failing to leave a business when directed.  He was released after being provided a Provincial Offence Notice.  Police cannot publicly identify this male because of the release type.

• a 44 year old of Sarnia, was arrested for shoplifting.  She was held for bail charged with theft under $5000 and breach of probation.  She was released on bail and will appear in court next on January 18, 2025

• a 29 year old) of Sarnia, was arrested for shoplifting and at the time, he was in possession of two grams of fentanyl.  He was held for bail charged with theft under $5000 and possession of a schedule I substance.  He was released on bail and will appear in court next on January 8, 2025.

December 5 2024 (see drug arrest below)

December 10, 2024

• a 38 year old of Sarnia, was arrested for shoplifting.  She was released on an undertaking charged with theft under $5000. Two days later, they was arrested again for stealing a wallet from an unlocked car and fraudulently using a stolen credit card.  She was held for bail and is facing additional charged of theft under $5000 and fraud under $5000.  they will appear in court next on January 13, 2025.
• a 59 year old of Sarnia, was arrested for shoplifting.  She was released on an undertaking charged with theft under $5000 and will appear in court next on January 14, 2025.

December 11, 2024

• a 34 year old of Sarnia, was arrested for shoplifting.  He was released on an undertaking charged with theft under $5000 and was to appear in court on January 16, 2025.  However, a week later he was again arrested for shoplifting and subsequently held for bail.  His next court appearance will be January 27, 2025.
• a 41 year old of Chatham, was arrested for shoplifting and held for bail charged with theft under $5000.  She has since been released but will appear in court next on January 14, 2025.
• a 21 year old of Chatham, was arrested for shoplifting.   She was released on an undertaking charged with theft under $5000 and will appear in court on January 14, 2025.

While each circumstance is unique, items recovered through these arrests include clothing, expensive grocery items (e.g. large top steaks), and other items that can be resold on the street.  One offender even had a "shoplifting list" of items that they were to steal, in order to trade for illegal narcotics.  Furthermore, multiple offenders were in possession of small quantities of illegal drugs at the time of their arrests, again demonstrating the common nexus between drug and property crime offences.    

Drug Trafficking Arrest (during this project)

On Thursday December 5, 2024 at 6:00 PM, officers were in the area of Northgate Plaza on Exmouth Street when they observed a man wanted for breaching a release order (bail conditions).  

Police arrested this male as he exited a retail premise and during a search incident to the arrest police located and seized the followings:

• 13.36 grams of methampetamine
• 37.47 grams of blue coloured fentanyl
• $865 in Canadian currency

 Total street value of the drugs is estimated at $6284.10

a 36 year old of Sarnia was held for bail charged with:

• Possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking
• Failure to comply with a release order (8 counts)
• Fail to comply with probation order (2 counts)

they remain in custody and his next court appearance is January 2, 2025. 

Anyone with information about those involved in trafficking illegal drugs are encouraged to contact the SPS or call Crime Stoppers at 519-332-TIPS (*477) or online at https://www.p3tips.com