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It’s a common crime with fairly light consequences BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
KINDEL MEDIA PHOTO
Despite store surveillance cameras and loss prevention officers, theft remains an ongoing issue in Prince George retail stores.
environment for everyone.” On June 11, Dana Leanne Marshall, who was born in 1971, pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000 and breach of a release order. Her next appearance is in August to schedule sentencing. Malfair heard that Marshall was part of a scheme to pay for basic items — such as popcorn, bread and milk — at
19, 2025
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EAT SHOP EXPLORE THRIVE DO
Shoplifters keeping courts busy
It is one of the most common offences heard in Prince George Provincial Court, but shoplifters guilty of theft under $5,000 rarely face a lengthy jail sentence. The frequency of charges and prosecution appears to lie in the perceived ease of committing the offence and the mistaken belief by offenders that it is a victimless crime. “It harms businesses and harms employees,” Judge Cassandra Malfair said in an April sentencing hearing. “It harms customers. It drives up costs for everyone. It necessitates the hiring of security guards, which not only, again, raises costs, but it affects the shopping
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Real Canadian Superstore on Ferry Avenue on March 11. Her partner in crime, Kenneth James Marshall, born 1972, left the store with bags containing more-expensive items, including electronics, totalling $1,057. He was caught immediately and the merchandise returned to the retailer. Kenneth Marshall pleaded guilty April 30 to the same charges and
was sentenced to time served and a 12-month probation term. Malfair expressed reluctance on April 7 in accepting the joint Crown and defence proposal for sentencing repeat offender Eryk Christopher Edge. The 44-year-old was placed under 150 days house arrest and a year’s probation after he had been caught breaching a court order at Winners/Homesense in Pine Centre Mall in January 2024. He stole items in February 2024 from Save-On-Foods in College Heights and, at the end of May 2024, he tried to get away with a full cart of groceries worth $788.82 by bus. Malfair admitted the man was undeterred from reoffending: He had spent 30 days in 2022 under home confinement for possessing stolen property and had a 60-day sentence in 2024 for two counts of theft. SEE ‘POVERTY’ ON PAGE 4