The Ladysmith RCMP have arrested a 23-year-old man following the theft of clothing from the Frank Jameson Community Centre.
On Sunday, Nov. 3 shortly after 2 p.m., the Ladysmith RCMP were contacted by staff at the Frank Jameson Community Centre (FJCC) pool in Ladysmith regarding a theft from a locker.
The pool staff reported that an unknown man was believed to have stolen items of women’s clothing, left unattended in an unsecured locker at the pool, according to a press release from Staff Sgt. Dave Herman. A pool employee confronted the man, who left the building prior to police being called.
On Saturday, Nov. 16 at 8:30 a.m., the same man is suspected of entering the women’s change room at the FJCC, where he stole a bright yellow bag containing a 12-year-old girl’s clothing.
During the course of this priority investigation for the Ladysmith RCMP, FJCC video surveillance was reviewed, which provided officers with a photograph of the suspect, according to Herman’s release.
“The photograph was circulated among neighbouring RCMP detachments and the FJCC, which quickly resulted in the identification of a suspect who had recently relocated to Ladysmith from a nearby community,” stated Herman.
On Friday, Nov. 22, Ladysmith RCMP received a report that staff at FJCC had seen the male suspect outside of a residence in Ladysmith. Ladysmith RCMP officers responded to the residence and arrested a 23-year-old man believed to be responsible for the thefts. The man was released on conditions and is set to appear in Duncan Provincial Court at a later date.
“Police continue to look further into the background of the suspect to determine a possible motive for these thefts,” stated Herman.