Peterborough police service dog (PSD) Gryphon helped apprehend two shoplifters in two separate incidents in Peterborough on Wednesday (September 20).
In the first incident at around 4:40 p.m., officers were called to a business in the Park Street and Lansdowne Street area about a man who had left the store without paying for items. Upon arriving, officers were directed to a man matching the description given to police.
Police constable Dillon Wentworth with the assistance of PSD Gryphon was able to prevent the suspect from fleeing. During the arrest, the suspect dropped a backpack and officers could see he had a knife in his hand. The suspect complied with demands to drop the knife and was taken into custody without incident. The store property was located and returned to the business.
A 34-year-old Peterborough man was arrested and charged with theft under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. Police also learned the accused man was wanted on two outstanding warrants. He was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on October 17.
In the second incident at around 7 p.m., officers were again called to a business in the Park Street and Lansdowne Street area about a man who had left the store without paying for items. They learned from an off-duty OPP officer the man had headed north on Park Street and was near the Knights of Columbus Park. Police constable Wentworth and PSD Gryphon arrived in the area, were directed to a man matching the suspect’s description, and were able to prevent the suspect from fleeing. The suspect threw the property to the ground and was taken into custody without incident.
A 23-year-old Peterborough man was arrested and charged with theft under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. The accused man is currently bound by a probation order to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, and he was further charged with failure to comply with a probation order. He is being held in custody and will appear in court on September 21.
