(file photo)

By Susan McNeil

Crime

‘Time to grow up,’ judge tells chronic thief who stole $4,500 earrings in P.A.

Aug 16, 2023 | 1:33 PM

At 53, it is past time William Loyer grows up and starts dealing with the issues that have made him a chronic thief, Judge Thomas Healey said in Prince Albert Provincial Court this morning.

Loyer pleaded guilty to two counts of theft including taking a set of earrings from Bocian Jewellers that were valued at $4,500.

His record includes 47 prior theft convictions, 11 break and enters and three robberies.

Court heard Loyer is a thief of opportunity rather than planning, which is how he noticed a jewelry case with an open back in the Prince Albert business last November.

It is also how he came to see a wallet sitting on a counter in a La Ronge Subway restaurant while its owner was filling his drink cup.

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Loyer took the wallet and removed $500 in cash from it.

In both cases, he was caught on surveillance cameras and the stolen items have not been recovered in either case.

After he took the diamond stud earrings, the store clerk noticed him behind the counter and later reviewed the security footage to see the earrings being taken before calling Prince Albert Police.

Officers found Loyer hours later, extremely high on meth and thinking that parasites were attacking him.

In addition to his meth addiction, Loyer is homeless and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Being homeless and unemployed makes it difficult for him to get the drugs he needs to control his mental illness, court heard.

Loyer was sentenced from the Prince Albert Correctional Centre to time served, the equivalent of 12 months in jail and another year of probation.

He has two adult daughters and said his desire is to get his life under control and spend more time with his family — a decision long overdue, Healey said.

“You’re too old for this now. It’s time to grow up,” said Healey.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com