Early Friday morning, the Weyburn Police Service received a call for a theft in progress. A resident witnessed a man stealing a surveillance camera from their property and began pursuing the suspect.
Corporal Ryan Cherniawsky says thankfully no altercation occurred as the thief eventually returned the camera to the victim and fled the scene.
“They were reporting to us in real time, so police were able to respond very quickly. After a brief search, a 37-year-old male was located at a nearby residence and subsequently arrested for theft under $5,000.”
Cherniawsky explains that even though the item was returned, the circumstances still warrant theft charges.
“The theft in that matter did occur. Now, return of the property also did occur, but the intent and act did occur on that, and that gives us reasonable grounds to believe the offense was committed. The intent was there as well as the act was there."
The man was released on an officer’s undertaking and is scheduled to appear in Weyburn Provincial Court on June 10th.
The Weyburn Police Service responded to 78 calls for service during the period of April 21st to April 27th. A total of 24 charges resulted, with 18 laid under the Criminal Code of Canada, five under the Traffic Safety Act, and one under the Summary Offence Procedures Act.