A Nations Fresh Food employee is facing extortion and fraud charges after telling shoplifters they had to pay a fee to avoid being reported to police.

Police said they started investigating reports of an employee who worked in loss prevention at the Jackson Square location who would detain people for offences like shoplifting last fall.

After being detained, the people were then told they had to hand over money or police would be contacted, according to a media release.

A 30-year-old Hamilton man was arrested on Feb. 22 and charged with three counts of extortion and two counts of fraud under $5,000.

He has been released on a promise to appear and is expected to appear in court on March 27.

Detectives said they think there may be more victims who have not reported similar incidents who they would like to speak to.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Const. David Tsuchida at 905-548-3816 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.