Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Friday, March 30, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A 40-year-old man was convicted with four counts of theft and one count of breaking and entering after stealing liquor, steaks, and baseball caps.

Paul Abel pleaded guilty to all charges in court on March 27. The man has approximately 50 criminal convictions dating back to 1983.

Abel's spree started nearly a year ago, when, on March 30, 2006, he was caught with two packages of steaks in his jacket on his way out of the downtown Extra Foods, according to a statement of facts read by Crown counsel John MacFarlane.

Abel was caught with stolen goods in his jacket again on May 8 when he tried to put five baseball caps in his jacket while the manager was distracted by a fight in the ReddiMart convenience store at 50 Street and 51 Avenue.

While he tried to push past the manager to get out the door, a member of the public helped hold Abel back until police arrived on scene.

Abel was caught again on May 26 at the downtown liquor shop with a 750ml bottle of Smirnoff vodka up his sleeve and was again detained until police arrived, MacFarlane told the court.

Abel was craving steaks again when he was caught with two packages of rib-eye steaks in his jacket on his way out of the Co-op store.

Just two weeks later on July 25, the manager of the White Fox Bar and Grill overheard some noises downstairs while working in his office.

He called the police, who caught Abel in the Discovery Inn parking lot with a white pail filled with five bottles of various alcohol.

As police approached, Abel dropped a bottle of Yukon Jack liquor from his sleeve into the bucket, said MacFarlane.

MacFarlane recommended that Abel not be allowed to return to the victimized stores in addition to jail time and probation.

Abel's defense lawyer Jim Brydon said that Abel shouldn't be banned from Extra Foods, as it would leave him with no place to buy groceries. Territorial court judge Bernadette Schmaltz agreed that Abel should have access to groceries, but still considered Abel's offences serious.

"Shoplifting is not often thought of as that serious an offence," said Schmaltz. "I do note that the total amount of items would be $250, which is certainly not pop and chips."

Schmaltz sentenced Abel to a total of eight months of jail time for all charges, and to have access to counselling and treatment programs to deal with his alcohol addiction.