Photo: Colin Dacre

A man has been hauled off to jail after allegedly being caught shoplifting from a downtown Penticton convenience store on Monday.

Const. James Grandy says the owner of Smart Shoppers on Main Street caught a customer stealing from the store shortly after noon.

When the owner confronted the thief, a fight ensued. The suspect had a knife on him, but it doesn’t appear it was used during the offense, Grandy said.

The owner was able to detain the thief until police arrived, and a large crowd gathered to watch officers wrestle with the man on the ground directly in front of the store.

Grandy says it’s likely the man will be facing theft charges.

Photo: Colin Dacre