Kamloops thief caught stealing $2,700 worth of tools from Home Depot gets probation – Kamloops News

Photo: KTW file

Kamloops Provincial Court

A thief who was caught stealing $2,700 worth of tools from a busy Kamloops retailer has been sentenced to 12 months on probation.

Dusten Kevin Stadnyk, 43, pleaded guilty Thursday in Kamloops provincial court to two counts of theft under $5,000.

The court heard Stadnyk entered the Home Depot on Hillside Drive around 6:30 p.m. on November 2 with his head covered by a scarf and immediately attracted the attention of a loss prevention officer.

The worker followed Stadnyk as he picked up a $600 Milwaukee tool and then began walking around the store.

“He watched him go up and down the aisles picking up expensive items and filling a cart,” Crown prosecutor Evan Goulet told the court.

Goulet said store staff called police, who were waiting outside when Stadnyk tried to flee with his cart full of loot.

“Mr. Stadnyk, after approximately 40 minutes, went to the back of the store and took the emergency exit, setting off the alarm, and walked out the door directly into custody,” he said. “The merchandise stolen totaled $2,706.”

The other charge Stadnyk pleaded guilty to Thursday stems from an incident at the Real Canadian Superstore on Summit Drive on Dec. 7. In that case, a loss prevention officer watched on video as Stadnyk filled a shopping cart with merchandise before fleeing through a fire exit.

Stadnyk apologized in court.

“I was just in a bad place at the time,” he said.

Kamloops provincial court judge Stella Frame accepted a joint offer of 12 months probation with conditions prohibiting Stadnyk from going to either store.