More than 100 charges laid against 11 people in shoplifting spree, targeting Ottawa liquor and drug stores

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is looking for three people, believed to be part of a shoplifting crew which has been regularly stealing from retail shops across the city.

More than 100 charges are being laid against 11 people after at least 50 incidents at stores such as LCBOs and Shoppers Drug Mart locations.

Officers looked into a series of brazen thefts in the city's west end on September 4, where the suspects, sometimes three or four at a time, would enter the store, take items and leave without paying for the merchandise. 

Three Shoppers Drug Mart stores were targeted in west Ottawa on September 9, and police say a quick-thinking officer provided key information that resulted in a search warrant on Cedarwood Drive in Heron Gate a few days later. Stolen merchandise from both Shoppers Drug Mart and the LCBO was recovered. Links were then made to many LCBOs and Shoppers Drug Mart stores throughout the city. 

Multiple charges, including theft, were laid against:

• Aron Yardon, 30, of Ottawa
• Alicia Sherman, 23, of Ottawa
• Andrew Bailey, 32, of no fixed address
• Two 16-year-old boys
• One 15-year-old boy 

An investigation by police in east Ottawa, looking into similar incidents in October, has also led to more charges for the young offenders in the group. The three teens are facing additional charges of:

• Theft
• Conspiracy to commit theft 
• Assault
• Breach of judicial release 

Two girls, ages 17 and 15 have also been charged. 

Finally, on October 25, the OPS arrested and charged a 32-year-old  man with two counts of robbery. Andrew Bailey, of no fixed address, was charged in connection with robberies in July of 2019 at an LCBO on Walkley Road and one on Woodroffe Avenue. Bailey was also charged with 16 counts of Theft from various LCBOs across the city from early July to mid-August. 

Ottawa police are still looking for Richard Ellis, 35, of no fixed address; Vithaya Chuop, 33, of Gatineau; and Linda Sherman, 56, of Gatineau. 

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the three suspects is asked to call the Ottawa Police Service West Criminal Investigations at 613-236-1222, ext. 2666. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.