Winnipeg worker allegedly stole 866 Apple products from UPS warehouse
A former United Parcel Service (UPS) worker in Winnipeg has been charged with multiple offenses for stealing Apple products worth about $1.9 million, according to the city police's property crime unit.
In January 2024, an employee of an international parcel delivery company warehouse advised the Winnipeg Police Service of a large-scale theft investigation involving Apple products, the police service said in a press release.
Following an investigation, the property crime unit identified 30-year-old Orville Beltrano as the one allegedly responsible for the theft.
Beltrano is a former UPS Winnipeg worker, according to a CTV News report.
In May 2023, a former Apple employee was sentenced to three years in jail for his role in a fraud scheme that cost the tech giant $17 million. The worker pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud Apple – and was ordered to repay over $19 million in restitution.
Multiple charges for former UPS worker
Police arrested Beltrano on Jan. 22 this year. He was charged with multiple theft-related and possession of property-related charges related to the theft and sale of Apple electronic products, according to Winnipeg Police, including:
- trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
- possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- theft over $5,000
- laundering proceeds of crime
Police also found $9,150 in jewelry recently stolen from the warehouse during their search, according to CBC.
Police then obtained and executed search warrants on the suspect’s residence and personal vehicle. There, they allegedly found a stolen laptop, cellular phone, and Canadian funds determined to have been obtained from the sale of stolen property.
Worker charged with stealing $1.9 million
Investigators found that between September 2023 and mid-January 2024, the suspect stole in-transit Apple electronics valued at approximately $1.9 million.
Beltrano is said to have stolen about 866 Apple products from the UPS warehouse he worked at, according to CBC. He then allegedly used online classified advertisements to sell the property on online platform Kijiji, according to CTV News.
CBC also noted that the former UPS worker put that money into two bank accounts, making $232,650 in total deposits between Sept. 24 and Jan. 13, and then drew from those accounts to buy a home in Winnipeg worth $630,000. In March, investigators learned the man had deposited more than $900,000 into his personal bank accounts, using some of that money to buy the home.
The director of Criminal Property Forfeiture sought an order for the forfeiture of his home, about $9,000 seized by police during their search, the bank account deposits, and the 2018 Audi it says the man used to meet his customers, according to the report.
The suspect was released by way of Crown Consent Release, and the investigation continues. None of the charges and allegations have been proven in court, noted CTV News.
Recently, Two school board divisions in Saskatchewan have terminated two workers after their alleged involvement in crimes that led to the divisions losing more than $22,000.
