Man who set fire as distraction to shoplift in Vancouver grocery given conditional sentence

Victor Atkinson, 50, has been handed a two-year conditional sentence and two years of probation after pleading guilty to arson for a fire he set inside Vancouver's Nesters Market. The fire occurred on March 30 at the downtown grocery store, which has no other locations in the city. Atkinson, who was captured on surveillance footage immediately after the incident, claimed he set the fire as a distraction to continue shoplifting, a habit he supports through drug use.

The court heard he confessed to the crime and expressed remorse, but prosecutors emphasized the danger his actions posed to hundreds of people inside and outside the building. Atkinson's extensive history of property crime offenses, nearly all involving shoplifting, and his substance misuse were cited as aggravating factors. The judge acknowledged Atkinson's guilty plea saved court time and resources, but noted the danger his actions could have caused.

The judge described Atkinson as "one of the few candid folks we get coming through these courts" and emphasized the importance of accountability. Atkinson must adhere to house arrest conditions for the first six months of his community sentence, followed by a curfew and abstaining from drugs and alcohol. The Gastown Residents Association questioned the strength of the sentence, stating that the potential for the fire to spread was deadly.