A Morinville grandmother has promised her grandson she will do everything she can to get back his iPad, which was stolen Monday from a local convenience store.
Lynne Rosychuk said she took her grandchildren to the St. Albert Trail 7-Eleven Monday evening to get a Slurpee. Her almost-eight-year-old grandson had with him a new iPad Mini, which he had just received the week before for his birthday.
Her grandson took the iPad into the store and set it down on a counter. Inside were two young men, who Rosychuk guesses were in their early 20s.
“I didn’t actually see them take it, but they were standing in front of me at the register, both kind of chuckling,” Rosychuk said. “And clinking their (Slurpee) glasses.”
When Rosychuk went outside to ask her grandson if he had his iPad, the two men left the store and disappeared.
“I feel really bad,” Rosychuk said. “He had just gotten it and he had to put some of his own money in for it and he did some extra jobs around the house like picking up dog poo, so for him to lose it was kind of crappy.”
Rosychuk said she later viewed the store’s security footage and it clearly showed the two men taking the iPad.
“They should be ashamed of themselves,” Rosychuk said. “Why they have to steal from a little kid is beyond me.”
While Rosychuk was reluctant to say anything, she said the theft feels worse in part because of what her grandchildren have already endured. On April 29, 2009, their mother – Jessica Martel – was killed by her abusive husband James Gary Urbaniak. The children were in the home when Martel was killed.
Urbaniak pleaded guilt to second-degree murder in October 2010 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 10 years.
Rosychuk contacted the RCMP about the theft, who confirmed they have received a report about the theft.
Rosychuk described the two men as in their early 20s. One had short “crew-cut” hair while a second had a similar haircut, but with a strip of longer hair down the middle. Both had blonde hair and were wearing shorts. One was wearing a ball cap.
Anyone with information about the theft can contact the St. Albert RCMP or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
