A B.C. woman has been sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to theft over $5,000 in taking merchandise from a Vancouver Lululemon store.
Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Harbans Dhillon heard that merchandise included 50 pairs of tights, items she guessed were about $100 apiece.
Crown prosecutor Michael Fox told the judge that Elena Cindy Lisa Torikka had gone into the Lululemon store on West 4th Avenue twice on Oct. 24 and taken merchandise. She was spotted by store security on her second visit.
After that guard called the police, Fox said, Torikka was found nearby with a blue recycling box full of store merchandise.
Fox said Torikka has a dated criminal record for theft-related offences. The recent offence was due to a substance-abuse relapse, he said.
“Substance use disorder and property crimes often go hand in hand,” Dhillon said.
But, she added, “this is not a victimless crime.”
While the judge acceded to the Crown-defence joint submission on sentencing, she said she would have given a sentence of 60 to 90 days.
With credit, Torikka has served 42 days in custody.
“I am going to respect the joint submission,” Dhillon said, agreeing to an order that Torikka stay away from any Lululemon store in B.C.
Dhillon said the case is not the first she has seen regarding Lululemon thefts.
“It appears people just go in there, take things and leave,” she said.
