It looks like a 26-year-old Sarnia man's luck has run out after he allegedly stole some lottery tickets from several convenience stores in Chatham.
Chatham-Kent police said the first two thefts took place at a St. Clair Street convenience store last week Thursday and a Queen Street convenience store on Friday.
Officers were then called in to investigate two more convenience store robberies in Chatham on Saturday -- one at around 8 a.m. on Grand Avenue East and the other shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Harvey Street.
Investigators said in all four of those cases, lottery tickets were stolen, adding that in one of the incidents, the man was allegedly holding a knife.
CK police said they called in the K9 Unit to help with the investigation and sent out officers to keep an eye on convenience stores throughout Chatham.
Officers were able to identify a suspect after reviewing some surveillance footage and they arrested him at around 10 p.m. Saturday while he was approaching a fifth convenience store on Richmond Street.
He was taken to police headquarters and charged with several offences including three counts each of theft, possession of stolen property, and failing to comply with a probation order.
He was also charged with robbery with theft, robbery with a weapon, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
After a bail hearing, the man was moved to the Southwest Regional Detention Centre where he was set to be held pending his next court appearance on Tuesday.
Chatham-Kent police are also taking the opportunity to remind the public that lottery tickets are regulated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and that it can track where those lottery tickets are cashed in. Police said anyone who tries to cash in stolen lottery tickets will be arrested.
