Fraud Charges

The Calgary Police Service has charged a man in connection with multiple frauds that have occurred across the city in March 2013.

During each incident, a man entered a store carrying a shopping basket, or pushing a shopping cart. After adding high-cost items to his cart, or basket, he then allegedly cut himself on razor blades he previously embedded in the handle or held in his hand, smearing his blood on a receipt from the store he picked up in the parking lot or from making an earlier small purchase. After seeking assistance from store staff, claiming either the shopping cart or product sliced him, he allegedly presented a fraudulent receipt claiming he was trying to return the items in the basket.

Store staff would then aid the man with his injury and accommodate the return of his item, even though the receipt was illegible due to the amount of blood on it.

Rodney Arthur BRADT, 59, of Calgary, also known as Arthur Brandt or Bill Bliss, has been charged with five counts of fraud under $5,000 and five counts of Mischief Dangerous to the Public.

This investigation came to light as a result of efforts by District 8 and the Retail Industry Crime Initiative (RICI), a joint partnership program between the Calgary Police Service and retail business that employ loss prevention or security personnel.

Using a website (www.retailcop.ca), RICI maintains a database to record and preserve retail crime information to help identify prolific offenders and crime trends.

BRADT will appear in court tomorrow, Tuesday, April 9, 2013.