Vegreville residents may have noticed a large police presence in the southwest area of town during the afternoon of Monday, March 7th.
RCMP were called by a Wal-Mart staff member who reported witnessing a male patron putting items into a dufflebag he brought in with him. The employee also reported that the man loaded up a toolbox from inside the store and then walked quickly out the doors.
When staff followed the suspect outside the store, he began to run and dropped the toolbox in the parking lot. He continued running into the field south of the store and was being watched by staff as they were on the phone with arriving officers.
Police were directed to the wooded area of he field to search for the suspect, while Community Peace Officers and other RCMP members contained the perimeter.
Numerous items stolen from the Wal-Mart were located throughout the trees. As police were scouring the trees, an officer received a phone call was received from nearby workers who could see the suspect hiding in another clump of trees near the officers. The officers were able to find the man and placed him under arrest.
The investigation revealed 70 items stolen from the business, amounting to a combined total of over $1,100.
27-year-old, Kevin William Dale Wood, has been charged with Theft under $5,000 and Resisting arrest. Wood is scheduled to make his first appearance in Vegreville Provincial Court on Monday, March 21st.
Police would like to thank the public for their assistance in this matter. The information they received from the Wal-Mart staff and nearby workers helped police efficiently and safely apprehend the criminal.