Guelph woman charged in Christmas Eve and Boxing Day robberies

The Guelph Police Service has charged a woman after two separate incidents on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

On Tuesday, police were called to a business on Speedvale Avenue East near Stevenson Street North around 2:30 p.m. A member of staff said he confronted a woman after seeing her hiding items in her purse. The employee said the woman punched them in the face and ran out of the store.

Officers were driving to the Speedvale Avenue East store when another nearby business reported that the same suspect had just shoplifted there.

Police arrested a 39-year-old Guelph woman and charged her with robbery, theft under $5,000, possession of stolen property and failure to comply with an undertaking.

Thursday, police received another call about a theft from a Silvercreek Parkway North business. Officers were called to the store just before 1:30 p.m. They were told an employee saw a woman take a gift bag off a shelf and throw it with items.

When she tried to leave without paying, the employee tried to stop her, but the woman threatened her and left the business.

Police found the suspect downtown a few hours later and charged her with another count of robbery.

She was held Friday for a bail hearing.