'Staggering' $2 million theft lands London Drugs employee in jail

London Drugs hired Carlos Cenon Santos as a "merchandise handler"—a job title that turned out to be apt for both his legitimate duties and his criminal activities.

According to a judgment from the B.C. provincial court, Santos stole up to $2 million worth of merchandise from London Drugs over five years, selling the stolen items on Craigslist and pocketing as much as $1 million.

"The quantum of the theft is clearly staggering," Judge Nancy Phillips remarked during the sentencing of the 34-year-old.

"It was clearly deliberate, intentional, and planned. And Mr. Santos did not stop until he was caught. Otherwise, it continued unabated and undetected."

'Employee bags were not searched'
Last month, Phillips sentenced Santos to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000; the ruling was only recently made public.

Santos was hired in October 2016, starting as a merchandise handler and eventually handling "high-value items, including electronic items."

"The offence itself, the pattern, was mostly an unsophisticated one that involved Mr. Santos using his access to these high-value electronic items," Phillips explained.

"He would remove items such as laptops from their packaging, hide them under his shirt, take them to his locker in the employee room, and then conceal the item in a pack. He would leave at the end of his shift with the item in his pack."

The judge noted that Santos exploited "an awareness he had that employee bags were not searched when an employee left the premises at the end of or during their shift."

Over five years, Santos is believed to have stolen around 245 items, with 52 stolen during the period he was under surveillance.

Phillips said Santos posted the stolen goods on Craigslist, selling them at a discount but still making between $750,000 and $1 million.

"I am told that Mr. Santos spent the money mostly to fund his lifestyle and to do such things as paying bills, buying medicine for his family, and making online purchases," the judge stated.

'An act of vengeance'
The scheme was uncovered when a supervisor noticed Santos appearing to conceal a laptop.

"That led to Mr. Santos being subject to surveillance and to CCTV video being reviewed," Phillips said. When confronted by store management, Santos provided an itemized account of all the thefts and profits.

"He confessed in a statement to the police to a years-long theft from London Drugs for money or gain. He added that he was unhappy with the company and its wages and started to steal as a bit of an act of vengeance against his employer."

The manager of the investigation team for London Drugs submitted a victim impact statement to the court, noting that the theft occurred during the COVID pandemic when "London Drugs was struggling as an employer."

She mentioned that Santos' crime required hundreds of hours to investigate and took a significant "emotional toll" during challenging times.

Santos had no prior criminal record.

"He knows that one of the biggest consequences for him will be that his future employment prospects will be hugely negatively impacted. He understands he has to pay for what he has done," Phillips said.

"Mr. Santos, I am told, comes from a good home. He allowed his dissatisfaction as an employee with London Drugs to cause him to act out in vengeance, and from there, it gained momentum. He feels quite ashamed of his behavior."

In a statement to CBC, a spokesperson for London Drugs declined to comment on legal matters involving current or former employees.

"There is no doubt, however, that the impact of theft has a huge impact on retailers, communities, and consumers," the company stated.