Guelph Police Service says a man is facing fraud and theft charges after allegedly attending the same store multiple times to switch tags and conduct fraudulent refunds.
Police said the 40-year-old man attended the retail store near the intersection of Stone Road West and Edinburgh Road South a total of seven times between July 18 and Oct. 17.
Tags would be switched on higher value items with lesser valued tags and then purchased at the lower price.
Police said the man also returned pair of running shoes for refunds, but upon further inspection by staff, the shoe box would contain shoes of lesser value.
He was also observed trying on new shoes and then leaving the store without paying.
Police called the operation a tag switching and fraudulent refund scheme.
The man turned himself in to police headquarters Tuesday and was arrested.
A 40-year-old Guelph male has been charged with:
- Fraud under $5,000 x8
- Theft under $5,000
He will appear in court on Feb. 9.
