Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries unveiled a new strategy to curb thefts in Liquor Marts.

The Crown corporation announced the new measures Thursday at a media conference at Grant Park Liquor Mart, measures which officials believe will deter the brazen and sometimes threatening shoplifting incidents which have increased in stores over the past year.

"To those out there who are stealing from us, if they're a member of your viewing audience, you will be caught,” said Wayne Harrison, director of corporate security and surveillance for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.

The plan includes a new trained loss prevention officer team to work at stores during peak hours or where there’s been an increase in thefts. They will be able to use a citizen’s power of arrest if they observe someone leaving a store without paying.

Liquor and Lotteries also plans to expand the use of uniformed special duty constables from the Winnipeg Police Service at some locations.

"We found that the visibility of this deterrent was successful at reducing the number of thefts at those locations,” said Harrison.

Shoppers could be asked to check bags, show photo identification to a security guard upon entering a store or when paying, and certain products will only be available with assistance from staff.

Empty or so-called “dummy” bottles, security alarms, locked shelving and bottle locks will also be used for certain products.

Video displays will also be placed at the front of stores to let people know they're being recorded when they enter a Liquor Mart. It's the same high quality surveillance video police are currently getting from Liquor and Lotteries to help make arrests once a suspect leaves a store.

"Whether it's a bag check, an ID check, a camera, extra security, having a cop in the store -- all of this layered impact, I'm hoping, will deter people,” said Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth.

Smyth said the increase in Liquor Mart thefts has strained the resources of the police service.

"I can't think of a time when social norms have been ignored so dramatically where people think it's normal to walk into a retail space and just load up bags and walk out," said Smyth.

Thefts increased nearly 300 per cent last year compared to 2017 and continue to escalate.

Liquor and Lotteries said its existing operating budget will be used to pay for enhanced security.

Stores lost around $800,000 worth of product last year which officials say represents a small percentage of total sales.

"It's less than half a per cent,” said Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries president and CEO Peter Hak. “It will have no impact on the cost of the product to the customer."

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries said four staff members are currently on leave and in 2018 there were approximately 12 employees on leave because of thefts in stores.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, which represents Liquor Mart workers, said it’s happy with the security upgrades.

“They want return to where it’s a positive shopping experience in our liquor stores,” said MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky. “Everyone deserves to go home safe at the end of the day.”

Crown Services Minister Colleen Mayer said the provincial government is encouraged by the new initiatives.

“I think it’s going to make a difference,” said Mayer. “I think what’s unique is it’s going to roll from store to store depending on where those issues are taking place and what best practices work at each different store.”

Liquor and Lotteries said future changes could include creating additional physical barriers such as controlled entrances and exits, additional security and enhanced surveillance.

Some of the new measures have already been implemented, some will start as early as Friday others will be rolled out over the next week.