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Thousands of goods recovered after shoplifting spree

Women arrested after downtown Victoria businesses report loss, damages

Victoria police were still sifting through thousands of stolen clothes and cosmetics on Monday after they nabbed a 35-year-old woman on a "one-woman shoplifting spree" last week.

Officers arrested the suspect on Jan. 17 after she was allegedly spotted tearing the tags off clothing and stealing the items from stores in the Bay Centre.

Police believe at least five downtown businesses were targeted, though more may emerge after the contents of the suspect's storage cabinet in the 800-block of Burdett Ave. are catalogued.

"(Investigators) were taking shopping bags full of lipsticks and powder out of the storage container," Russell said. "They've already spent four whole days cataloguing and they said they are half way through the items.

The woman faces charges of mischief and possession of stolen property under $5,000, which may be upgraded up to theft over $5,000.

emccracken@vicnews.com

Did you know?

According to a 2007 survey from the Retail Council of Canada, Canadian retailers lose approximately $3.6 billion in revenue to shoplifting every year.