WINNIPEG – Winnipeg police have a suspect in custody after a series of thefts, including one daring jewelry store heist caught on camera.
On November 15th a suspect allegedly went into Golden Hand Jewellery on Main St. looking to buy a ring for his girlfriend.
“I left him and I attended to another customer and I left the showcase open thinking I would come back to him and show him more rings, that was my mistake. And then he took the chance when I wasn’t looking and grabbed the two rings,” said Golden Hand Jewellery co-owner Paul Szurlej.
The suspect allegedly made off with two rings valued at $10,000.
But police say that isn’t the first time the suspect has stolen. The 30-year-old allegedly went to a hotel in the 700 block of Main St. two weeks before the jewelry theft. When inside the hotel the suspect allegedly waited for staff to leave the cash register, went behind the counter, and took some money.
Just like at the jewelry store, the suspect also left the hotel unnoticed.
But he didn’t stop there, the suspect also allegedly broke into a pharmacy next door to the hotel on November 17th and stole a large amount of medication.
“Incidents occurring in the middle of the day, in very public places, and they’re occurring time and time again and I think that thought process that these types of incidents are going to occur in the middle of the night in a dark alley when no one’s around, that’s a bit of a myth,” said Const. Jason Michalyshen, Winnipeg Police Service.
With the help of security camera footage at all three locations, Kyle Desmarias was arrested and charged Saturday with breaking and entering, and theft.
“I’m very thankful, and grateful, and happy that he’s caught,” said Szurlej.
Police say the stolen rings were found and returned to Szurlej and some of the medication was also recovered.
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