Latest LCBO theft just 1 of about 20 so far this year in Guelph, police say

Police in Guelph are investigating after nearly $1,000 of alcohol was stolen from an LCBO Sunday. It's just one of about 20 such thefts this year in that city.

The most recent incident happened around 5:45 p.m. on Sunday near Gordon and Wellington streets. A man and woman entered the store, picked up several bottles of alcohol and walked out without paying.

The man was described as 30 to 35 years old, six feet tall or 182 cm with dark receding hair. He was wearing a grey jacket, red hoodie and black shoes with white soles.

The woman was described as 45 to 50 years old, 5'2" to 5'5" or 157 cm to 167 cm, with black hair and wearing a green jacket, black pants, a grey striped toque with glasses on top and light brown boots.

It's unclear whether the 20 or so alcohol thefts are related, said Guelph police spokesperson Scott Tracey, but "certainly in the past we have seen organized large-scale thefts from LCBO."

Tracey points to the arrest of two men from May of last year who were believed to be responsible for more than 100 thefts worth $300,000 in product from LCBO stores across the province.

As for whether these kinds of thefts are becoming more common, Tracey said: "In my experience, certainly over the last six or eight months there seems to be an increase in these types of reports."

The thefts are often occurring during opening hours and can be incredibly brazen, Tracey said.

"In one case the person brought in a suitcase on wheels, or a sort of a backpack on wheels, and just loaded it up with bottles and just simply wheeled it right out of the store," he said. 

If customers see a theft like this, Tracey is warning them to stay away and not intervene.

"We certainly don't suggest that people try to stop the theft," he said, explaining "people who are doing this — they may have a weapon, they may be in an altered state through consumption of some substance. We really don't know what they're going to do in the situation so it's not worth running the risk of getting injured."

Instead, Tracey said witnesses should call the police as soon as they can, get a description of the suspect and if they leave the store, look for which direction they head in.