A Sault Ste. Marie resident faces multiple theft-related charges following a spree of incidents that took place between July 3 and July 5 in Elliot Lake, Massey, Spanish, and Serpent River First Nation.
Items that were reported stolen include lawnmowers, liquor, and groceries, says a news release issued by East Algoma OPP.
Full text of the release follows:
Reports of multiple shoplifting/thefts incidents in Elliot Lake, Spanish, Massey, and Serpent River First Nation results in an arrest.
A 31-year-old [is alleged to have begun] a spree of shoplifting/theft occurrences that began on July 3, 2023. Shortly after 6:30 p.m., members from the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a shoplifting complaint at a local pharmacy on Ontario Avenue in the City of Elliot Lake.
The suspect exited the store with stolen items and left in an older model pickup truck.
On July 5, 2023, shortly after 8:22 a.m., members from the Manitoulin (Espanola) Detachment of the OPP responded to a theft of two lawnmowers from a local hardware store in the Town of Massey.
This same individual left the area in a pickup truck and travelled westbound on Highway 17.
On July 5, 2023, at approximately 10:21 a.m., the East Algoma OPP received a report of an individual who stole three bottles of liquor from the local liquor store in the Town of Spanish. The suspect vehicle left in a westbound direction on Highway 17.
On July 5, 2023, East Algoma OPP received a complaint of a person that attempted to steal a barbecue on Walkhouse Bay Road in the community of Serpent River First Nation.
Video footage was reviewed, and descriptors were of the same suspect involved with the thefts and shoplift occurrences in Elliot Lake, Spanish and Massey.
On July 5, 2023, shortly after 6:30 p.m. members from the East Algoma OPP responded to a theft of a cart of groceries from a local grocery store on Highway 108 in the City of Elliot Lake.
The suspect vehicle left northbound on Highway 108 and made a stop at a local hardware store on the Highway 108 and [where the suspect allegedly] stole a lawn chair and flowers.
At approximately 6:44 p.m., police located the suspect and suspect vehicle on Perini Road and made an arrest.
In addition, on July 6, 2023, members from East Algoma OPP responded to a theft of food from a local grocery store on Hillside Drive South in Elliot Lake.
Sometime between July 4, 2023 and July 5, 2023, [it is alleged that] the same suspect attempted to steal food without paying for it.
As a result of the multiple OPP occurrences, Alice (Alex) Evonic, 31 years of age from Sault Ste. Marie, was charged with:
• Theft under $5,000 - shoplifting (five counts)
• Possession property obtained by crime under $5,000 (five counts)
• Robbery with violence
• Engage in prohibited on premises
The accused appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice Video Bail in Blind River on July 6, 2023, and was remanded into custody.
OPP recovered the lawnmowers, liquor, and other stolen property.