Halton Police have arrested a 52-year-old man following a months-long investigation into thefts targeting Shoppers Drug Mart stores.
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) recovered nearly one million dollars in stolen product after a three-month investigation into thieves alleged to have been targeting Shoppers Drug Mart locations across the GTA.
In March of 2024 (HRPS) Retail Theft Unit began an investigation into an organized group of thieves who police say were targeting Shoppers Drug Mart locations across the GTA; the group targeting various items including nicotine replacement gum, cosmetics and muscle creams.
On May 29, 2024, the HRPS executed five search warrants at a storage facility in Peel Region where property stolen from Shoppers Drug Mart locations was located. In addition, product tied to tractor trailer load thefts which had occurred in Halton, York and Toronto were also located with all recoveries totalling an estimated one million dollars.
As a result of this seizure, $489,000 dollars in product has been returned to Shoppers Drug Mart.
As a result of the investigation, Pawel Hohne (52) of Toronto has been charged with the following:
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000
• Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000
The Halton Regional Police Service would like to recognize and thank the York and Toronto Police Services for their assistance in this investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. "See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the website.