Shoplifting in Sooke has reached epidemic proportions, with store managers reporting a surge in both the frequency of incidents and the value of stolen merchandise.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been a noticeable uptick in the last couple of years,B次元官网网址� said Jeff Stewart, manager of the Western Foods in Sooke. B次元官网网址淲e catch an average of three to five shoplifters a day.B次元官网网址�
Although Stewart believes that coincides partly with the rise in SookeB次元官网网址檚 homeless population because some of the storeB次元官网网址檚 prolific, repeat shoplifters belong to this group, he said they do not solely drive theft.
B次元官网网址淲e catch people of all demographics all the time,B次元官网网址� Stewart said. B次元官网网址淭he RCMP are beneficial with our prolific offenders, but our staff time is wasted with the constant monitoring, confrontations, and collection of security footage to allow the RCMP to follow up.
B次元官网网址淛ust getting the product back seems like a minor victory. The bottom line is that the cost of theft is just another factor driving up the cost of groceries.B次元官网网址�
Staff Sgt. Greg Willcocks, head of the Sooke RCMP detachment, said part of the problem is that businesses underreport shoplifting.
B次元官网网址淲e had 20 complaints in 2023, and we know thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot more shoplifting and smaller thefts than whatB次元官网网址檚 reported to police,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he biggest obstacle is people donB次元官网网址檛 think anything will be done, and that couldnB次元官网网址檛 be further from the truth.B次元官网网址�
When police charge someone for shoplifting, the offender can potentially be put under court conditions to not go back into that store, Willcocks said.
B次元官网网址淭he maximum penalty for breaking those conditions is up to two years in jail,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat underlines the importance of businesses reporting shoplifting if they have repeat offenders because we can put a stop to that.B次元官网网址�
Willcocks encourages people to call the police immediately on the non-emergency line at 250-642-5241 when dealing with a shoplifter because confronting them could escalate the situation.
Deb Schenk, executive director of the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce, said shoplifting has increased significantly in the past year, and some small businesses in Sooke have expressed apprehension about confronting suspected shoplifters, fearing verbal or physical abuse.
B次元官网网址淲e understand the growing concerns surrounding shoplifting, a prevalent issue in todayB次元官网网址檚 society, even in smaller communities like ours,B次元官网网址� Schenk said. B次元官网网址淲e have engaged with local businesses to gather insights into their experience and concerns to address the challenges they face and explore effective preventive measures.B次元官网网址�
Some measures include promoting community participation in local business initiatives to create a supportive network to discourage criminal activities and implementing educational campaigns to raise awareness about the consequences of shoplifting through community events, social media, and collaboration with local schools.
Another measure involves fostering strong communication between businesses and law enforcement to enhance understanding of local crime trends and coordinate preventive efforts through regular meetings and updates.
B次元官网网址淓stablishing a discreet support network among local businesses for sharing information about suspicious activities or known shoplifters can lead to more effective preventive measures and a safer business environment,B次元官网网址� Schenk said.
The chamber also encourages businesses to invest in enhanced surveillance measures to deter theft and improve their defense against it.
Sooke Home Hardware store manager Terry Eriksen said theft takes away from customer service because more time is spent on inventory.
B次元官网网址淓very dollar stolen from our company costs the company $5 and has an effect on the economy of Sooke and what the businesses can give back,B次元官网网址� she said.
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