UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE:

Waterloo Regional Police have laid additional charges in connection to retail thefts throughout Southwestern Ontario.

In December 2025, a 52-year-old Guelph female was arrested and charged in connection to the theft of Jellycat stuffed toys from a Kitchener business. At that time, approximately 140 toys were recovered.

Through further investigation, WRPS’ General Investigations Unit determined that the female, working with a male, had stolen approximately 300 Jellycats, valued at over $15,000, between April and December 2025. Investigators identified 34 thefts from 17 businesses in Waterloo Region, Guelph, Burlington, Milton, Georgetown, Oakville, and Orangeville. The stolen toys were sold through an online buy-and-sell platform.

On January 30, 2026, the male, a 43-year-old from Kitchener, was arrested and charged with the following offences:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000
• Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence

The female was arrested again on February 11, 2026, and charged with the additional offences of:

• Theft Over $5,000
• Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
   

PREVIOUS MEDIA RELEASE:

Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a series of thefts involving merchandise from a business on Ottawa Street South in Kitchener.

On October 25, 2025, and December 6, 2025, a number of Jellycat stuffed toys, valued at approximately $2,000, were reported stolen.

On December 9, 2025, members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service's General Investigations Unit completed a search warrant at a residence in Guelph in relation to the investigation. Officers recovered approximately 140 stolen toy items, valued at an estimated $7,500. Most of the recovered items were Jellycat toys, believed to have been stolen from across Southwestern Ontario.

A 52-year-old Guelph woman has been arrested and charged with:

• Theft Under $5,000
• Possession of Stolen Property Over $5,000
• Trafficking in Stolen Property

She is scheduled to appear in court in Kitchener on January 12, 2026.

Police continue to investigate and are working to identify other businesses that may have been victimized.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s General Investigations Unit at 519-570-9777, extension 4496, or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.