During the month of March, the Mission RCMP were called to respond to nine reports of shoplifting in which the offenders were adults (one women and the rest were men).
After reviewing the history of these offenders, police confirmed that they had a collective 286 criminal charges and 101 criminal convictions.
On March 10, the Mission Prolific Offender Suppression Team (POST) responded to a request from the loss prevention officer at the Value Village on Horne Street. Priority offender – 49-year-old Richard Born – was observed by the Value Village loss prevention officer (LPO) working with another female offender. After exiting the store, Born was arrested by the LPO and tuned over to POST members.
Born was remanded and appeared in the Abbotsford Provincial Court on March 13. He was sentenced to 84 days jail, 12 months of probation and a $200 victim surcharge.
The Mission RCMP would like to acknowledge the great work done by the Value Village LPO. Without his keen initiative and knowledge of his authorities, priority offenders such as Born may continue to commit further offences.
“If you think you see someone shoplifting, don’t hesitate to inform a store employee; the sooner you make the store aware, the more likely they are to prevent the theft,” said Const. James Mason, media relations officer for the Mission RCMP.