Portage la Prairie RCMP say a pair of retail theft enforcement blitzes conducted last month resulted in several arrests and charges as police continue efforts to combat shoplifting in the city.
The targeted operations took place on Sept. 12 and Sept. 26, focusing on businesses along Saskatchewan Avenue West and Sissons Drive. Officers made multiple arrests for thefts under $5,000, with several suspects also facing additional charges related to court order violations and bail conditions.
Among those arrested was a 37-year-old Portage la Prairie woman accused of leaving a store without paying for merchandise. She was released on an undertaking. In another incident, a 22-year-old man from Sandy Bay First Nation and a 17-year-old Portage la Prairie youth were taken into custody following a reported shoplifting incident. Both were held on theft and breach-of-court-order charges.
Police also arrested a 33-year-old woman accused of theft and failing to comply with court-ordered conditions. RCMP say she had been released on bail for previous shoplifting allegations involving the same business and was held for court.
A 44-year-old Portage la Prairie woman was also arrested and later released following a separate shoplifting investigation.
One of the more serious incidents involved a 46-year-old Portage la Prairie man. RCMP say officers discovered he was carrying a concealed weapon while prohibited from doing so when they arrested him in connection with a theft. He was remanded into custody.
Police also dealt with two other individuals who were seen leaving a store with unpaid merchandise. They were instructed to return and pay for the item, while one of them was subsequently banned from returning to the business.
RCMP say retail theft enforcement remains an ongoing priority for officers in Portage la Prairie.
