A woman is suspected of committing a pair of "break outs" in Williams Lake.
RCMP in the community of 11,500 people 236 kilometres south of Prince George said Jerrika Leigh Hill-Jackson was arrested last week on suspicion of locking herself in two stores then waiting until they had closed and the employees have left to steal merchandise.
The first robbery occurred on Oct. 16 at a business on Prosperity Way. Employees arrived at the store that morning after receiving information of suspicious activity from a security guard overnight. They went over surveillance video that showed the heist.
Hill-Jackson was arrested on Oct. 17 when RCMP were called to a 1st Ave. N. business.
"Store employees reported the suspect was currently in the store, and they recognized her from video surveillance as having committed a similar store break-out from the night before," RCMP said.
As it happened, while Jackson was being arrested, an RCMP officer was at a Prosperity Way business on another matter.
"Employees of the two businesses were in contact with one another and shared that suspect description matched both incidents," RCMP said.
Jackson has subsequently been charged with two counts of breaking out after entering to commit an offence contrary to Section 348(1)( c ) of Criminal Code - and yes, that really is an offence. Jackson was also charged with two more mundane counts of theft $5,000 or under.
RCMP Cpl. Brett Squire likened the incidents to the acts the hapless robbers tried to pull in a series of popular Hollywood films.
"We don't, outside of the popular Home Alone movies, see many incidents of an accused remaining in a store after closing, so it is a unique MO for both the police and the local business community to be aware of," Squire said. "In this case; quick information sharing between the businesses, and prompt reporting to police led to quick arrest."
Hill-Jackson was released on conditions with a date to appear in Williams Lake Provincial Court on Nov. 30.
