Caught on London Line: Repeat Offender Arrested With Prohibited Weapon After Assault

The Sarnia Police Service Community Crime Unit have identified and charged a prolific shoplifter.

Between August 20th, 2025 and September 7th, 2025, a male suspect committed five (5) retail thefts at a businesses located in the Quinn Drive and London Road area. The suspect stole clothing and electronic devices that valued a total of $1010 dollars. The male suspect was identified a Joseph FREER (43 years) of London Line.

On September 16th 2025, at 2:33pm, the Sarnia Police Service responded to a business situated on Quinn Drive to a report of loss prevention officer who had been assaulted.  Prior to police arrival a loss prevention officer observed Joseph FREER trespassing at the Quinn Drive premise. The loss prevention officer instructed FREER to leave the property. FREER refused to leave and assaulted the loss prevention officer by punching him twice. 

At approximately 4:02pm, a member of the Emergency Response Team observed FREER walking eastbound on London Line. FREER was arrested for assault and failing to comply with a release order. A search of FREER incident to arrested revealed that he was in possession prohibited weapon (a knife with a blade that opens with centrifugal force). FREER was currently bound a release order with conditions not to attend the Quinn Drive premise. 

On September 17th, 2026, members of the Community Crime Unit and Intelligence Unit executed a search warrant at a London Line address. Police located and seized several items of evidence that linked FREER to the thefts that occurred from August 20th to September 7th 2025.

Joseph Wayne Brian FREER was held for a bail hearing on the following charges:

• Theft Under $5000 (five counts)
• Fail to Comply with Release Order (two counts)
• Assault
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon

Following his bail hearing, FREER was remanded into custody by the courts. 

The Sarnia Police note that since September 2024, police have had 22 interactions with FREER including nine arrests and 10 charges.

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