Surveillance video has been released in hopes of catching an alleged thief after $20,000 worth of cellphones were stolen at a mall in east Regina.
Staff say a surveillance camera captured video of a man going through cabinets at the Bell kiosk in Victoria Square Mall around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. It’s believed the alleged thief used a piece of scrap metal to break into the counters.
Kristen Anderson, a cellular consultant at the kiosk, says 23 cellphones were stolen, including two devices used for demonstrations.
“I feel overwhelmed, but I guess it happens,” Anderson said. “I don’t see it happening when the mall is open, like when there are customers in the store. But, obviously, he cased it out and hit us at a good time.”
According to Regina police, posting surveillance video online can sometimes hinder an investigation but they say in some cases, it helps.
“It can be of real benefit because you have lots of eyes of the public viewing that video,” said Regina Police Service spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich.
“They’re perhaps able to view that video and provide some information that the investigators don’t have.”
Anderson says the surveillance video was viewed 6,000 times after it was posted on social media.
Anyone who recognizes the man seen in the video is asked to contact Regina police or Crime Stoppers.
Based on a report by CTV Regina’s Virginia Wright
