Cape Breton man sentenced for Walmart meat thefts

A Cape Breton man who repeatedly stole meat from Walmart has been sentenced to jail.

Steven Thomas MacNeil, 39, of New Victoria, was recently convicted in Sydney provincial court on six counts of thefts and multiple release condition and probation violations.

The offences date back to Oct. 25, 2024, when he was caught stealing merchandise from Mark’s Work Wearhouse in Sydney as well as violating a probation order forbidding him from being at Mark’s Work Wearhouse, Atlantic Superstore in Sydney River, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. in New Waterford, and Canadian Tire in Sydney.

MacNeil was also found guilty of two counts of theft under $5,000 for stealing meat from the Walmart location on Sydney Port Access Road on June 16 and July 16, 2025, and violating his release conditions by failing to appear in court.

On. Aug. 25, 2025, MacNeil was again charged with stealing consumable merchandise from the same Walmart location and violating a court order to stay away from that store.

He was also found guilty of missing two court appearances between Sept. 22, 2025, and Dec. 17, 2025.

More recently, MacNeil was caught stealing merchandise from the Walmart location in Sydney River on Jan. 13, 2026, and the New Waterford NSLC on April 12, 2026, when he also violated a court order that banned him from being in any store or business except in the constant company of his surety.

A Sydney provincial court judge sentenced MacNeil on July 30 to a total of 88 days in custody to be served at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth, followed by 18 months of probation.

MacNeil is also barred from entering several local businesses, including Mark’s Work Wearhouse in Sydney, the NSLC in New Waterford, and the Walmart locations in Sydney and Sydney River.