Woman who used her children to help shoplift gets two years behind bars for crimes across Alberta
A serial shoplifter who committed numerous thefts at businesses across Alberta, including ones where she involved her children, was sent to prison Friday.
Candace Dawn Minde, 32, was handed a two-year sentence after pleading guilty in provincial court to 62 charges, which mainly consisted of thefts under $5,000.
Judge Marilena Carminati noted the “sheer scope” of the more than $60,000 worth of thefts — suggesting it was on a “commercial scale” — and slammed Minde for using her children in the scheme.
“The use of children to commit some of these crimes is terrible and it is a seriously aggravating factor,” Carminati said.
Children deserve to have their innocence protected and should not be used to commit crimes.”
The judge also criticized Minde for “preying on the good will” of clerks who tried to help her and for lying to some of them by saying she was buying things to open a shelter.
Veteran Crown prosecutor Tania Sarkar told court she had never before seen such a “large-scale” case of shoplifting and described Minde as an “extremely prolific” thief who seemed to be committing crimes to acquire basic items such as gas, food and children’s clothing.
“This appears to be the way Miss Minde shops,” Sarkar said. “It is very disturbing.”
Court heard Minde stole from various stores — Walmart, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart and Toys “R” Us — gas stations, convenience stores and liquor shops in Edmonton, Red Deer, Ponoka, St. Albert, Wetaskiwin, Sylvan Lake, Camrose and Airdrie throughout 2015.
On one occasion, at a Walmart in Drayton Valley, Minde made off with $7,351 worth of merchandise.
Most of the thefts occurred by her and various adults and children filling one or two shopping carts and bringing them up to the till and then, while the children or adult accomplices would start taking things to her vehicle, she would have problems with her debit or credit card.
She would then claim she needed to get cash or another card from either her vehicle or one of the adults, then simply not return. On some occasions, she would just flee while the store clerks tried to recover the goods.
Court heard she also used similar tactics after filling up with gas and grabbing lottery tickets and once did a dine and dash while the server was wrapping up food to go after she, a man and several children, had a $137 meal.
Many of the thefts involved electronic items such as laptops and cellphones she would pawn.
Court heard Minde was identified as being responsible for the thefts as a result of being captured on store surveillance cameras, but even after being put on probation or let out on bail, she continued stealing.
Defence lawyer Doug Vigen told court he asked Minde why and said she advised him of some tragic personal circumstances and a drug addiction which led to her going “off the rails.” He also said the mother of seven is pregnant and will give birth while in prison.
Woman who used her children to help shoplift gets two years behind bars for crimes across Alberta
I don't know if five years or ten years would make any real kind of difference except that loss prevention might see some down time. But clearly there is a need for some kind unorthodox (just meaning outside the box, nothing abusive or cruel) methods for dealing with this kind of repeat offender. What that would be I don't really know but I'd bet real money a two year stint in jail isn't going to do anything to curb her behaviour.
A serial shoplifter who committed numerous thefts at businesses across Alberta, including ones where she involved her children, was sent to prison Friday.
Candace Dawn Minde, 32, was handed a two-year sentence after pleading guilty in provincial court to 62 charges, which mainly consisted of thefts under $5,000.
Judge Marilena Carminati noted the “sheer scope” of the more than $60,000 worth of thefts — suggesting it was on a “commercial scale” — and slammed Minde for using her children in the scheme.
“The use of children to commit some of these crimes is terrible and it is a seriously aggravating factor,” Carminati said.
Children deserve to have their innocence protected and should not be used to commit crimes.”
The judge also criticized Minde for “preying on the good will” of clerks who tried to help her and for lying to some of them by saying she was buying things to open a shelter.
Veteran Crown prosecutor Tania Sarkar told court she had never before seen such a “large-scale” case of shoplifting and described Minde as an “extremely prolific” thief who seemed to be committing crimes to acquire basic items such as gas, food and children’s clothing.
“This appears to be the way Miss Minde shops,” Sarkar said. “It is very disturbing.”
Court heard Minde stole from various stores — Walmart, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart and Toys “R” Us — gas stations, convenience stores and liquor shops in Edmonton, Red Deer, Ponoka, St. Albert, Wetaskiwin, Sylvan Lake, Camrose and Airdrie throughout 2015.
On one occasion, at a Walmart in Drayton Valley, Minde made off with $7,351 worth of merchandise.
Most of the thefts occurred by her and various adults and children filling one or two shopping carts and bringing them up to the till and then, while the children or adult accomplices would start taking things to her vehicle, she would have problems with her debit or credit card.
She would then claim she needed to get cash or another card from either her vehicle or one of the adults, then simply not return. On some occasions, she would just flee while the store clerks tried to recover the goods.
Court heard she also used similar tactics after filling up with gas and grabbing lottery tickets and once did a dine and dash while the server was wrapping up food to go after she, a man and several children, had a $137 meal.
Many of the thefts involved electronic items such as laptops and cellphones she would pawn.
Court heard Minde was identified as being responsible for the thefts as a result of being captured on store surveillance cameras, but even after being put on probation or let out on bail, she continued stealing.
Defence lawyer Doug Vigen told court he asked Minde why and said she advised him of some tragic personal circumstances and a drug addiction which led to her going “off the rails.” He also said the mother of seven is pregnant and will give birth while in prison.
Woman who used her children to help shoplift gets two years behind bars for crimes across Alberta
And yet she gets two years.......
And yet she gets two years......
And yet she gets two years......
I don't know if five years or ten years would make any real kind of difference except that loss prevention might see some down time. But clearly there is a need for some kind unorthodox (just meaning outside the box, nothing abusive or cruel) methods for dealing with this kind of repeat offender. What that would be I don't really know but I'd bet real money a two year stint in jail isn't going to do anything to curb her behaviour.
