The Thunder Bay Police Service has concluded a six-month investigation into local retail theft and robberies, resulting in 256 charges against 59 individuals and the recovery of over $39,000 in stolen property. The operation, known as Project Eclipse, took place between September 2025 and February 2026 to address a pattern of property crimes affecting numerous businesses across the city.
The investigation was led by the Break, Enter, and Armed Robbery unit, a specialized team within the police service. The project received funding from the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General, with additional investigative support provided by the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.
Staff Sgt. Chris Carlucci stated that the crimes involved a high level of planning and coordination. He noted that while some incidents were crimes of opportunity, there is also a significant level of addiction in the community that tends to fuel these illegal activities. The charges filed against the 59 individuals include armed robbery with violence, break-and-enter, trafficking in stolen property, and multiple failures to comply with court orders.
This enforcement action comes as the city continues to address challenges related to crime severity. In recent years, data from Statistics Canada has ranked the community as having one of the highest rates of violent crime in the country. To assist with these ongoing public safety concerns, the provincial government has also provided $1.3 million to the police service to support mental health, addiction services, and new forensic technology.
The police service is currently led by Chief Darcy Fleury, who was sworn in during April 2023. Fleury brings over 36 years of policing experience to the role, having previously served as a chief superintendent with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
