A 45-year-old man who targeted retail stores across the Capital Regional District has pleaded guilty to multiple property-related offences.
On April 24th, Amir Atefat was sentenced in connection to two West Shore RCMP investigations dating back to 2024.
The first incident happened in May 2024 at the Home Depot in Langford. Two men entered the store, grabbed items off the shelves, and attempted to return them for cash.
While one suspect managed to leave before officers arrived, Atefat was caught on security cameras and arrested as he exited the store.
He later pleaded guilty to false pretence and was handed a suspended sentence with 12 months of probation. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $360 in cash found on him at the time of his arrest.
A few months later, in September 2024, Atefat was once again under police radar—this time for a series of thefts across the region.
West Shore RCMP’s Crime Reduction Unit and the Drugs & Organized Crime Unit tracked Atefat and another suspect as they made their way through several stores, including Home Depot and London Drugs. The pair was eventually arrested outside a business in Duncan.
Atefat pleaded guilty to two counts of theft under $5,000. As a result, he was given a 90-day conditional sentence to be served in the community, followed by 18 months of probation.
As part of his sentencing, Atefat is banned from entering any Home Depot, London Drugs, or Best Buy location in British Columbia, and he’s not allowed to be on Vancouver Island without written approval from his probation officer.
