Victoria Police caught a man who is alleged to have stolen several hundred dollars worth of lottery tickets.
Officers had been investigating after dozens of lottery thefts were reported to have occurred in Victoria.
On July 31st a suspect was identified then a plainclothes officer followed the man into the store.
They witnessed the man distract the cashier, then reach behind the counter and steal several hundreds of dollars worth of lottery tickets.
They caught the man - who they are identifying as Mark Ewart - in the 900-block of Humboldt Street and have charged him with three counts of theft under $5,000.
Officers are now working with BC Lottery Cooperation and the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General to determine any additional charges.