Police in Ontario’s Peel Region have arrested 65 people and laid nearly 550 charges as part of a crackdown on retail theft in Mississauga and Brampton.
The arrests form part of an ongoing investigation named “Project Filcher,” which Peel Regional Police say is a response to a surge in retail thefts in the region.
In total, police say that more than 350 theft incidents resulting in over $250,000 in stolen merchandise took place between February and April, with Winners, Walmart, Nike stores, and Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) stores being major targets.
“These numbers represent more than enforcement. They reflect prolific offenders, individuals responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss across our region, targeting businesses repeatedly. I can’t emphasize that enough,” Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Marc Andrews said during a press conference on May 21….