Man faces charge in theft of lottery tickets

Dean Amendt, 37, charged with 1 count of theft under $5,000

A Vernon man has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars worth of lottery tickets last Thursday.

Vernon RCMP responded to a report of a theft at the Co-op gas station at 3530 27 St., shortly before 3:30 p.m.

A lone male had entered the store and allegedly stole $500 in lottery tickets, said Const. Kelly Brett.

The male fled on foot and was seen getting into a blue Ford Focus.

An officer viewed the video surveillance footage at the Co-op gas station and identified the suspect from previous lottery thefts throughout the Vernon area.

The same suspect was previously arrested and charged with six counts of theft of lottery tickets in July 2017.

On Dec. 8, the Vernon task force located the Ford Focus and stopped the vehicle.

The male driver was identified as the lottery theft suspect and was arrested.

Dean Amendt, 37, was charged with one count of theft under $5,000 and is scheduled to appear in court today.

“The RCMP continue to encourage the public to report suspicious persons or activities in their neighbourhood to police,” said Brett. “It was the observant nature of the surrounding businesses that led to the details involving the direction of travel and mode of transportation by the suspect, thus resulting in the vehicle being located and (an) arrest being made.”