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WINNIPEG — His name is not well known to Winnipeggers, but Lawrence McPherson is well known to police.
He was arrested last week after police say he was found with a GPS that was allegedly stolen during a vehicle break-in.
Court records show McPherson has 62 prior convictions, everything from break and enter to theft under $5,000 to failing to comply with previous bail conditions. Items stolen from vehicles in the past include cash and a laptop.
“It is frustrating to know that one or two individuals regularly keep coming up on a consistent basis,” Const. Rob Carver said.
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The 38-year-old moved to Winnipeg from Fort Francis, Ontario about a decade ago. His first arrest came in 2006. Legal aid has told the courts in previous hearings that McPherson is homeless and struggles with an addiction to crack and that he wants to “get off the hamster wheel that he’s on.” But the court also heard deterrence is an issue. McPherson has been sentenced to lengthy stays in prison, anywhere from just a few days to several months, and in at least one case was re-arrested just days after his release.
In an August 17th, 2014 hearing, the crown attorney told the court that members of the Winnipeg Police Service had previously asked him what he saw himself doing in five years and he reportedly told them “he sees himself five years from now doing the same thing.” When police then asked what might work to reduce his crime rate, McPherson said: ” “People need to quit leaving their stuff out in the open.”
Jay Prober is a defense attorney and while he does not represent McPherson says he doesn’t recall ever seeing a rap sheet that long.
“My first reaction was this guy is trying to get into the Guiness Book of World Records,” Prober said.
Sources tell Global News that when McPherson is out of custody, vehicle break-ins in specific areas like the exchange, have been known to double.
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