It’s something that certainly doesn’t happen every day in a small town – masked individuals running out of a busy department store with stolen electronics. But it’s something that happened here in Kemptville earlier this week at the local Walmart location.
Social media users were initially alerted to the theft in a post by a Walmart employee which was later taken down. A customer who was in the store at the time confirmed for the Times that three male suspects walked confidently through the store, laughing as a witness noticed them.
Thefts from department stores are not particularly rare. One estimate suggests that Walmart loses the equivalent of 1% of its gross revenue to theft, or about $1 for every $99 spent. While this is only one source and can’t be independently verified, it is without a doubt that surreptitious shoplifters often take advantage of the busy environment of department stores. What is rare about last week’s theft is the brazen nature of the alleged crime.
A spokesperson for the Ontario Provincial Police confirmed that an incident took place at a “store on Colonnade Drive in Kemptville”, but did not name the store as is protocol for OPP statements.
“At approximately 18:44 on March 12, 2023, three young males entered a store on Colonnade Drive in Kemptville,” said Const. Ann Collins of the OPP. “The three males had face coverings and walked directly to the electronics department. Once the display was accessible, the three males grabbed various iPad tablets totalling $4,500 and took off running towards the emergency doors. Video surveillance outside the store shows the males running north at the corner of the LCBO parking lot where they entered a white vehicle.”
The three males are described as follows:
- Caucasian, 16 to 20 years old, brown hair separated in the middle with dreadlocks. Male was wearing a red puffy jacket and grey seat pants. Thin and possibly around 5’8.
- Darker complexion, 18 to 22 years old, black hair wearing a blue sweater and grey sweat pants. Appears to be a bit older than the other two.
- Black, 16 to 20 years old, black hair, thin, wearing a white puffy sleeveless jacket with dark sweater under. Dark pants and red running shoes.
Const. Collins confirmed that the incident took approximately three minutes from start to finish. Anyone with information regarding what happened is encouraged to contact the Grenville County OPP at 613-258-3441.
