Man sentenced to five years for LCBO thefts

A man responsible for stealing more than $300,000 in product from LCBO locations across Ontario was recently sentenced in a Guelph court to five years in prison.

In May 2024, the Guelph Police Service had been investigating along with officials from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. The investigation identified a suspect believed to have committed more than 100 thefts from LCBO stores across Ontario, including 10 in Guelph.

Officers with the Guelph Police Service Break Enter Auto Theft Unit tracked the suspect to St. Catharines, where he was found sleeping in a stolen vehicle used in some of the crimes. With assistance from members of the Niagara Regional Police Service the vehicle was blocked in. The man was awakened but rammed several cruisers in an attempt to flee before he was finally arrested.

The man pleaded guilty to a long list of charges, including several counts of theft over $5,000, theft of motor vehicle, dangerous driving and assault with a weapon. He was sentenced to five years in prison -- less time-served since his arrest in May 2024 -- and a three-year driving prohibition.