Winnipeg thefts moving out of liquor stores and into retail outlets: police
So far this year, Winnipeg is seeing a 44 per cent spike in shoplifting incidents.
It’s a problem Kevin Schmidt, the owner of the Downtown Family Foods, has seen first hand. He said since people returned downtown post-pandemic, shoplifting has been on the rise at his grocery store.
"It's getting more difficult and it's very frustrating because anything that walks out your door – five bucks, 50 bucks – it all affects your bottom line," he said.
The thieves are also becoming more brazen, Schmidt said.
"They don't care anymore, they don't care if it's concealed as much, they'll just have it in their hands and they'll just see an opportunity to make it towards the door and out they go."
The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) released new statistics on Monday as part of its announcement on the Retail Theft Initiative – a project that began last month to combat the issue of shoplifting in the city.
According to police, from January to August, there have been 3,745 cases of shoplifting under $5,000 – a spike of 44 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.
This number remains below pre-pandemic levels; however, the thefts, which used to mostly take place in liquor stores, have now switched to retail outlets.
“This increase is not unique to our city,” said Insp. Jennifer McKinnon of the Major Crimes Division.
“Cities across Canada and our neighbours south of the border are all experiencing this rising trend in shoplifting incidents,”
The Retail Theft Initiative is a partnership between police, the Retail Council of Canada, and Winnipeg’s business community. So far, police have made 151 arrests in connection with the initiative.
Police note that shoplifting is not a victimless crime, and in some situations, it has resulted in the injury of retail staff and members of the public.
“Recently, as of last week, a 59-year-old female employee was stabbed in the 500 block of Notre Dame while assisting security with a male suspect who had just shoplifted inside the store,” McKinnon said.
“Although she will heal from her injuries, the trauma that she will carry with her will be long and lasting.”
READ MORE: Winnipeg man facing charges in two violent robberies
The WPS said it recognizes that the issues surrounding theft are complex, and that it’s committed to working with community partners to ensure supports are made available to those facing addiction, poverty and food insecurity.
Officers are using crime-analysis data to determine where to focus their efforts. Police have been focused on the downtown, Kildonan Crossing and Polo Park areas.
Schmidt hopes the initiative works, but feels it is geared towards the bigger retail chains.
"When they're stealing five or ten dollars worth of stuff, even though it affects you're bottom line, it almost doesn't make sense to put the time to put that report in," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
Canadian women's soccer team staffer given suspended prison sentence over drone incident, prosecutor says
A Canada women's soccer team staffer has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying a drone to film the closed-door training session of the New Zealand team on Monday, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Loblaw to settle class action over bread price-fixing for $500 million
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. say they have agreed to pay $500 million to settle a pair of class-action lawsuits regarding their involvement in an alleged bread price-fixing scheme.
EXCLUSIVE One address, 76 foreign currency dealers: Inside Canada's money service business 'clusters'
An IJF and CTV News investigation has found dozens of cases across Canada where multiple money services businesses (MSBs) are incorporated at the same address, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the location's actual occupant. One money laundering expert calls it an 'abuse of the system.'
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.