More than $85K in liquor stolen by ‘organized’ group: police

The LCBO store on Pioneer Park Drive in Kitchener, Ont. on Aug. 27, 2025. (Sidra Jafri/CTV News)

Four suspects have been arrested in relation to the theft of more than $85,000 in alcohol from LCBO stores across the Greater Toronto Area.

Police say the group operated in an organized fashion and are responsible for a total of 54 thefts from LCBO locations since May.

Investigators say that the group also committed thefts at other major retailers, including hardware, dollar, grocery, and thrift stores.

Halton police arrested four suspects in Oakville on Oct. 1 in a joint action with the LCBO’s Resource Protection Unit.

A search of their vehicle resulted in the seizure of a quantity of illicit drugs, including cocaine, MDMA and Hydromorphon.

Christopher Noel, 39, Crystal King, 40, Philip Young 48, and Marc Martiniello, 33, all of Mississauga, face a total of 24 combined charges.

The charges have not yet been tested in court.

Police say that all four suspects were under various release orders pertaining to past theft-related charges at the time of their arrest, including one who was bound by eight separate release orders.

“HRPS emphasize that retail theft is not a victimless crime. The theft of goods from retail stores impacts all Ontarians through increased prices and compromised safety in retail environments. The rise in organized retail crime continues to pose risks to both retail workers and customers,” a news release issued by Halton Regional Police states.