Large retailers are being hit by shoplifters and higher costs — from food to housing — may be the reason why.
Shoplifting in Port Coquitlam has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to RCMP statistics, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
The trend raised some concerns at Port Coquitlam’s July 25 council meeting and mirrors information about a 300 per cent increase in theft reported by the Retail Council of Canada.
RCMP Insp. Darren Carr told council police are seeing an increase in shoplifting cases and it might be related to prolific offenders, which police are trying to target.
Port Coquitlam shoplifting files have increased 68 per cent to 98 cases compared to a three-year average of 46.
Carr also speculated the bump in shoplifting is due to people being more desperate and don’t have the money to pay for the goods they want or need.
“It’s not unusual to see these types of crimes in inflationary times. I suspect that’s part of it,” said Carr.
He said people are “struggling to make ends meet and are more inclined to avail themselves of shoplifting.”
Crime prevention key
One of the problems, he acknowledged, as some may believe that businesses can afford to cover the loss when, in fact, it’s passed on to the consumer.
Coun. Steve Darling expressed concerns that police may not even hear about some shoplifting because victims stop calling.
Carr said businesses shouldn’t give up and should call police, who can provide them with information about crime prevention and “target hardening their stores.”
“It comes down to the businesses engaging with us and working at it together.”
Theft from vehicles remains most common crime in the city, with 98 files, compared to 83 during January to March and a three-year average of 89 for the period.
