The North Bay Police Service was contacted by the head office of a local business in March of 2025, in relation to an investigation that they had conducted between June and October of 2024.

The North Bay Police Service entered into their own investigation, and as a result two males were arrested and charged in 21 separate incidents of Theft and Fraud.

The accused in this incident is Geordan Robertson, 40-years, of North Bay, who was charged with:

• One count of Theft Over $5000
• Two counts of Theft Under $5000
• Two counts of Fraud Under $5000

The co-accused in this incident is Ian Robertson, 69-years, of North Bay, who was charged with;

• One count of Theft Over $5000
• One count of Theft Under $5000
• One count of Fraud Under $5000

Between June 17^th, 2024 and September 1^st, 2024, on 10 separate occasions, the accused and the co-accused attended a North Bay business. The accused would select several items and place them in a shopping cart. The co-accused would take the cart and wait, while the accused would approach the cashier and make a small purchase, and distract the store associates. The co-accused would then walk out of the store with the selected unpaid items. During these 10 incidents, the accused and the co-accused stole a total of $19,322.39 worth of merchandise.

Between September 4^th, 2024 and October 12^th, 2024, accused entered the same store on 4 separate occasions and made purchases with a credit card belonging to the co-accused. The accused, would then re-enter the store shortly after, and would select the same items that were on the receipt, and would leave the store without paying for them. The total amount of the theft was $2,153.78.The co-accused would return the stolen items to the store at a later date, and receive credit for them. The total amount of the fraud was $2,153.78.

Between August 10^th, 2024 and October 15^th, 2024, the accused attended the same store on 7 separate occasions, and would perform similar thefts and frauds The total amount of the theft of the items was $3,817.39 and the subsequent fraud was also $3,817.39.

The accused was on a release order at the time of his arrest, for similar actions at a different store.

The co-accused was released on an Undertaking and the accused was held for a bail hearing.