Halton Police Break Up Major Shoplifting Ring
Published March 23, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Four men are facing dozens of charges after Halton police dismantled an organized shoplifting ring.
Four men are facing dozens of charges after Halton police dismantled an organized shoplifting ring.
Various retailers in Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and the surrounding area have been targeted since Oct. 2017.
The suspects would enter stores and select items such as small appliances, perfumes, and clothing.
They’d run out – past employees – without paying for the merchandise and in some cases, multiple offenders would work in teams to distract the employees or act as the lookout in the parking lot, investigators allege.
Videos
Burlington’s street crime unit teamed up with loss prevention officers – who aren’t police but work in the stores – and identified one of the suspects.
Three more suspects were positively identified, along with two homes where stolen property was being stored.
The suspects were arrested on March 20.
Search warrants were executed in Mount Hope and Stoney Creek, along with a vehicle.
More than $17,000 in property was seized, which police are linking to retail thefts, along with a 2009 Hyundai Elantra.
Items range from purses to tools to an espresso maker, plus pots and pans.
Angelo Graci, 56, of Mount Hope, is charged with: 12 counts of theft under $5,000; two counts of trafficking in stolen property; participating in a criminal organization; possession of stolen property for the purpose of trafficking over $5,000.
Miklos Szedlar, 26,of Stoney Creek, is charged with: 16 counts of theft under $5,000; trafficking in stolen property; participating in a criminal organization; possession of property obtained by crime.
Angelo Miller, 26, of Mount Hope, is charged with: 11 counts of theft under $5,000; two counts of trafficking in stolen property; participating in a criminal organization; possession of property obtained by crime; seven counts of fail to comply with probation; fail to comply with recognizance.
Blue Lucas, 29, of Hamilton, is charged with: nine count of theft under $5,000; two count of trafficking in stolen property; participating in a criminal organization; possession of property obtained by crime; fail to comply with recognizance.
Anyone with additional information is asked to phone Det. Dwayne Perron at 905-825-4747 ext. 2342. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stopper’s “See Something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stopper’s “at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising