Shoplifting incidents on the rise in Penticton as Christmas approaches

PENTICTON – It would seem 'tis the season for shoplifting in Penticton, with calls for thefts on the rise this month.

Police arrested a man and woman for shoplifting incidents at Dollarama, Value Village and the Real Canadian Superstore on Dec. 1, Penticton RCMP Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says.

The two Merritt residents apparently decided to make a wish list and fill it in Penticton. Police received multiple calls regarding the pair, and caught up with them at Superstore. They were released with a future court date under conditions not to appear in Penticton except for court.

Later the same day, police picked up another shoplifting pair — a man and woman — at Value Village. They ended up paying for their goods but it didn't make much difference to their immediate future when police found outstanding warrants for the two out of Kelowna and Penticton. The man was held for court while the woman was released under a promise to appear.

On Wednesday, Dec. 2, a Penticton man known to police as a prolific offender was caught shoplifting at Penticton Walmart. He was caught with a stolen jacket and also found to be in breach of conditions from a previous court order that stipulated he wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near Walmart. He was charged for theft and breach, and held for court.

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