Wanted Grande Prairie resident evades capture during National Retail Crime Blitz

Oct 28, 2025 | 12:35 PM

Grande Prairie RCMP was listed among several detachments that participated in a recent national retail crime blitz partnership with the Retail Council of Canada.

“Retail Council of Canada and its members appreciate and thank RCMP for making retail crime a priority and collaborating with the retailers on targeted enforcement projects to disrupt repeat prolific offenders and organized retail crime groups,” says Rui Rodrigues, Retail Council of Canada.

Throughout the blitz a total of 51 arrests were made, with 27 being repeat offenders, and 11 warrants were issued.

One offender of note, according to Alberta RCMP, was a 38-year-old Grande Prairie female that had reportedly stolen several items and evaded capture by the Loss Prevention Officer.

Mounties say the accused has 40 convictions dating back to 2006 and has been charged with seven retail-related offences in 2025. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.

Alberta RCMP says the blitz results suggest a large portion of retail crime is perpetrated by recidivist criminals and groups willing to commit violent acts.

“Retailers across the province are seeing increased violence and huge costs related to shoplifting, which ultimately get passed on to law abiding citizens” says S/Sgt Luke Halvorson, Community Safety and Wellbeing Branch. “This retail crime blitz was a snapshot of what’s happening out in the community, in which recidivist criminals and crime groups are often behind this type of crime.”

The other Alberta RCMP detachments participating in the Blitz were Airdrie Rural, St. Albert, Red Deer and Fort McMurray.

by Nathaniel Leigh