A repeat offender is facing several new charges after he was allegedly found with a knife while being arrested for shoplifting at Lambton Mall.
Sarnia police were called to the mall at 2:30 p.m. on March 17.
Police said the manager of a large retail store provided officers with ongoing updates about a man who allegedly put several items into a large bag.
He was stopped outside the store and placed under arrest.
Officers seized $1,121 worth of stolen items and a diving knife found inside his hoodie pocket.
The accused, a 27-year-old man, was charged with theft under $5,000, carrying a concealed weapon, violating a weapons prohibition order, and three counts of failing to comply with probation.
He was released by the courts with conditions.
The Sarnia Police Service (SPS) has had 26 interactions with the accused since April 2025.
*In an update posted by the SPS on March 20, police said the 27-year-old had been arrested again, within hours of being released from custody.
He's accused of stealing 10 pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream from a Finch Drive convenience store shortly after 1 p.m. on March 19.
He was charged with theft under $5,000 and two counts of breach of probation.
"Community safety includes supporting our local businesses in deterring theft. Offenders who steal someone else's property need to be held accountable, but still taking into consideration any individual circumstances," said SPS Chief Derek Davis in a media release. "If someone needs access to support and resources, they are available without needing to resort to crime and the victimization of others."
The court released the accused with conditions.
