

Chris Herhalt, CP24.com





York Regional Police say tips from the public enabled them to identify the “fresh breath bandit,” a 46-year-old man accused of taking more than $1,500 worth of chewing gum from a Markham pharmacy in December.

Police say that on Dec. 17 at 7:20 p.m., a man arrived via taxicab at a pharmacy near the intersection of Highway 7 and Kennedy Road in Markham. Surveillance camera footage shows the man entered the pharmacy and walked to the candy section.

The man was seen opening a garbage bag and filling it with chewing gum. The suspect was then seen walking the bag out of the store. A few moments later he re-entered the pharmacy and returned to the candy section, filling another garbage bag with gum.

Investigators say the suspect loaded both bags into the waiting taxicab and then left.

Police have identified the suspect as Lester Hosein of no fixed address. He is suspected to be somewhere in the Greater Toronto Area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7541, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).