News release
Kelowna RCMP Target Team arrest serial shoplifter and recover stolen SUV
May 12, 2026
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Kelowna, British Columbia
From: Kelowna RCMP
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Following coordinated enforcement efforts in late April and early May, the Kelowna RCMP Target Team arrested a prolific shoplifter and recovered a stolen SUV.
Shoplifter stopped in their tracks
Kelowna RCMP Watch Support Officers (WSOs) play an important role in identifying patterns of repeat offending and assisting detachment members in advancing investigations. After detecting a trend of serial shoplifting incidents, WSOs gathered and reviewed key evidence and provided it to the Kelowna Detachment’s Target Team, who continued the investigation.
On April 30, 2026, the individual believed to be responsible for numerous shoplifting incidents over several preceding weeks was arrested and later released with a future court date. Police subsequently obtained and executed a warrant for the individual’s residence, during which property believed to be stolen was recovered.
Stolen SUV
On May 1, 2026, Kelowna RCMP Target Team members located a grey SUV, previously reported stolen, outside a Lake Country motel.
After parking the stolen SUV and entering a separate vehicle as a passenger, the driver of the stolen SUV was taken into custody. During the search of the subject as well as his effects, police located cash, suspected illicit drugs, and a replica firearm.
Michael Dennison, a resident of Kelowna, appeared before the court on May 2, 2026, where the following charges were approved:
- Possession of stolen property under five-thousand dollars
- Possession of stolen property over five-thousand dollars
- Operate a motor vehicle while disqualified
- Breach of undertaking
Dennison was remanded in custody, has since appeared in court, and is next scheduled court appearance is May 25, 2026.
Collaboration between Kelowna Detachment support units and investigative teams is essential to advancing investigations which have a meaningful impact on city residents,” says Corporal Steven Lang, Kelowna RCMP Media Relations Officer. “The Kelowna RCMP Target Team continues to make a positive community impact through intelligence‑led crime‑reduction strategies targeting those responsible for repeat property crime offences.”
