Police plan to blunt shoplifting spike nets 150 arrests

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/12/2023 (691 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg police crackdown on serial shoplifters — prompted by a spike in reported thefts and rising violence against retail workers — has led to more than 150 arrests since Nov. 1.

Major crimes Insp. Jennifer McKinnon said officers are targeting hot spots, including the Polo Park, Kildonan Crossing and downtown areas, but will soon expand to other places over the holiday season.

“We see suspects brazenly enter stores, taking items with no efforts to conceal them and brandishing a weapon at employees, security and any customers that are in their way,” McKinnon said at a news conference Monday. “This has led to innocent people, who are just going about their day, being assaulted, bear-sprayed and stabbed.”

A 59-year-old worker was stabbed Nov. 29 by an alleged shoplifter at a No Frills grocery store near Notre Dame Avenue and Sherbrook Street.

The Winnipeg Police Service received 3,745 reports of shoplifting (under $5,000) between January and August, a 44 per cent increase compared with the same eight-month period in 2022.

Amid cost-of-living increases, some thefts are driven by food insecurity, poverty or addictions.

The stepped-up enforcement — by the property crimes and community support units — stems from an increase in repeat offenders and violence, according to police.

Some retail workers feel unsafe and are scared to go to work, said McKinnon. “Everyone should be able to come to work to support their families without fear of being hurt.”

In some cases, thieves are walking out of stores with higher-priced items — from trays of meat to cartloads of tools, clothes or cosmetics — to sell on social media or elsewhere.

“Everyone should be able to come to work to support their families without fear of being hurt.”–Insp. Jennifer McKinnon

The Retail Council of Canada, which has partnered with the WPS along with Crime Stoppers for the initiative, has said organized crime is contributing to the spike in thefts.

Shoplifting, which is vastly underreported, costs Manitoba retailers about $200 million annually, said John Graham director of government relations for the RCC’s Prairie branch.

“Without a doubt, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in recent years,” he said Monday.

Kevin Schmidt, co-owner of Downtown Family Foods at 120 Donald St., said most thefts at his grocery store involve people who are struggling.

“A lot of the theft that we have here is not opportunity, it’s people that are hungry,” he said.

Staff try to keep an eye on customers, and are advised not to chase shoplifters out of the store, Schmidt added.

Sheriane Ritchie, who owns the Royale Raine at 222 Osborne St., said shoplifting happens about once a month at her clothing store.

Last summer, someone tried to run off with a mannequin to steal the dress it was wearing, she said.

“I’m upset because people don’t understand with small businesses, when you steal something it might be small to you but it’s big to us,” she said. “You’re stealing our small profit that is already too small.”

WPS community engagement Supt. Bonnie Emerson said police are working with support agencies to help shoplifters with underlying issues.

A diversion program is an option for first-time offenders, she said.

“I’m upset because people don’t understand with small businesses, when you steal something it might be small to you but it’s big to us.”–Sheriane Ritchie

“If it was the case these were crimes of desperation, crimes of poverty… that would be an opportunity where we would divert,” said Emerson.

Of the 151 arrests, police did not have data for the number of suspects who’ve been referred to community organizations.

Kate Kehler, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, said the situation speaks to the need for more supports for people whose basic needs are not being met.

“The needs just keep growing and people will do whatever they can to stay alive,” she said. “People are tired and scared. That leads to anger and bad decisions.”

While shoplifting is below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, police noted there has been a shift from Liquor Marts to retail stores. Controlled entrances were installed at Liquor Mart locations, following a sharp rise in thefts in 2019.

“Security at liquor stores has done just exactly what we all knew it would — moved the problem on elsewhere to other retailers,” said Kehler.

Costs incurred by businesses — for everything from product losses to extra security measures — are passed on to consumers, who are already facing higher prices.

This, while some of the top grocery retailers are reporting higher than anticipated profits, said Kehler.

Retailers are using various methods to try to prevent thefts. Some have hired private security guards or special duty police officers, added security cameras or trained staff how to deal with conflict.

Prolific thieves must also be targeted by law enforcement to help reduce the number of incidents, said Graham. “They’re the ones creating the most disruption in stores.”

Police urged workers and shoppers not to intervene when a theft occurs.

“Given the violence that we’re seeing, you don’t know who’s carrying a weapon on them,” said McKinnon.

The WPS also encouraged people to report crimes because data is used to identify trends and increase enforcement in hot spots.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Dan Lett | Not for Attribution

Tuesdays

A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world.

Sign up for Dan Lett | Not for Attribution

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Chris Kitching
Reporter

Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.

Every piece of reporting Chris produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.