Shoplifting appears to be on the rise at grocery stores in Canada as a growing number of supermarkets report an increase in thefts of food and pharmacy products.

Industry experts say meat is the No. 1 stolen item followed by cheese and over-the-counter medicine.

Liquor stores are also reporting an increase in theft since the onset of the pandemic.

ItB次元官网网址檚 unclear whether the uptick in shoplifting is due to escalating inflation and food insecurity, a growing resale market for stolen goods or other factors.

But experts say thefts have become more brazen in recent months and customers wearing face masks make it more difficult to identify people.

Several grocers across the country have expressed concern with surging shoplifting and aggressive behaviour, said Gary Sands with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers.

B次元官网网址淩etailers are seeing more thefts and physical confrontations,B次元官网网址� said Sands, senior vice-president of public policy for the industry group.

B次元官网网址淛ust in the last few weeks, grocers have been seeing a lot more meat theft. Meat prices have definitely risen.B次元官网网址�

Statistics Canada reported last month that meat prices were up nine per cent in December compared with a year earlier.

ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to pin the trend down to a definitive cause, Sands said.

And getting hard numbers isnB次元官网网址檛 straightforward. Retailers often ask suspects to leave the store and not return rather than involve police, Sands said.

B次元官网网址淭hey might say, B次元官网网址楪et out of here and donB次元官网网址檛 come back,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧art of the issue is with masking, even if youB次元官网网址檝e got them on camera, it can be hard to recognize people.B次元官网网址�

The situation means thereB次元官网网址檚 little official data on the issue.

Sgt. Steve Addison with the Vancouver Police Department said shoplifting is a vastly under-reported crime.

B次元官网网址淚n Vancouver we have seen a significant trend over the past couple years involving violent shoplifters,B次元官网网址� he said in an email. B次元官网网址淭his includes people using weapons and physical force against store staff and security.B次元官网网址�

Addison added that the situation has less to do with the pandemic and more to do with people stealing products to sell in the illicit market.

Retail Council of Canada spokesperson Michelle Wasylyshen said theft impacts retailers in multiple ways with the biggest being the loss of inventory.

One of the few ways retailers can recover a portion of that loss is through increased prices, she said.

Retailers also hire security guards and turn to solutions such as locked showcases and other security measures to deter people from stealing.

But those measures come with added costs retailers recoup must usually through higher prices, Wasylyshen said.

Meanwhile, retailers say prosecution of shoplifting cases has dropped off considerably over the last two years, she said.

B次元官网网址淎s such, some retailers have changed their approach to focus on trying to deter theft from occurring, rather than making arrests,B次元官网网址� Wasylyshen said in an email.

B次元官网网址淲hen theft does occur, staff are advised not to engage with the perpetrator for their safety and that of others who may be nearby.B次元官网网址�

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Food Price Report released in December predicted soaring food prices and rising food insecurity could lead to increased rates of theft.

B次元官网网址淎 growing phenomenon related to increasing food insecurity caused by high inflation is theft from grocery stores, which is anticipated to intensify in 2022,B次元官网网址� the report said.

B次元官网网址淕rocers are anecdotally reporting an uptick in theft, particularly of items such as meat, cheese, over-the-counter medication and energy drinks. Unreported loss to theft could be as high as $3,000 to $4,000 each week in some Canadian grocery stores.B次元官网网址�

When asked about grocery store theft, Metro Inc. spokeswoman Marie-Claude Bacon said the company doesnB次元官网网址檛 comment on the topic.

Sobeys Inc. also declined to comment while Loblaw Companies Ltd. did not respond to a request for comment.

Several police departments contacted across Canada said shoplifting statistics were not readily available.

Const. Rob Carver with the Winnipeg Police Service said shoplifting statistics for the city over the last few years are complicated to draw conclusions from because of a rash of thefts from Manitoba Liquor Marts.

B次元官网网址淭his is further complicated because some Liquor Marts are located within or attached to grocery stores,B次元官网网址� he said in an email. B次元官网网址淭his makes comparative data inaccurate.B次元官网网址�

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario said in a statement it has seen an increase in theft and attempted theft of liquor since the start of the pandemic.

The LCBO said it has increased the presence of security guards in many locations, while employees receive regular training on theft detection, deterrence and reporting.

B次元官网网址擝rett Bundale, The Canadian Press