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December 12, 2017 - 10:43 AM
VERNON - A Vernon thief’s lucky streak of stealing hundreds of lottery tickets has come to an end.
Police connected a recent incident involving stolen lottery tickets to a suspect, Dean Amendt, 37, who has previously been arrested for the same crime.
On Dec. 7 shortly before 3:30 p.m., Vernon RCMP responded to a report of a theft that had just occurred at the Co-op Gas station at 3530 27 St., RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly Brett says in a media release. Police officers quickly responded to the area and learned that a lone man entered the store and allegedly stole approximately $500 in lottery tickets. The man fled on foot and was seen getting into a blue Ford Focus by neighbouring business employees.
The investigating officer reviewed video surveillance at the Co-op gas station and was able to identify the suspect from previous lottery ticket thefts that have occurred throughout the Vernon area, Brett says. The same man was previously arrested and charged on six counts of theft related to stolen lottery tickets from July of 2017.
On Dec. 8, Vernon officers located the blue Ford Focus involved in the previous incident and initiated a traffic stop. The man driving the car was identified as the lottery theft suspect and arrested.
Amendt is charged with one count of theft under $5,000 and failing to comply with a recognizance. His next court appearance is Dec. 14.
“The RCMP continue to encourage the public to report suspicious persons or activities in their neighbourhood to police,” Brett says. “It was the observant nature of the surrounding businesses that lead to the details involving the direction of travel and mode of transportation by the suspect, thus resulting in the vehicle being located and arrests being made.”
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