New data from Statistics Canada paints a troubling picture for businesses in B.C.
The numbers show that the rate of shoplifting has surged in recent years, with store owners saying that a lack of enforcement is making their merchandise an easy target for thieves.
“It’s not being dealt with,” said Tricia Hill, the owner of Stoxx Thrift & Vintage. “It feels like for the small business owner, we are just left to figure it out and fight — like literally fight — for our goods and fight to stay alive and fight to stay in business.”
StatCan says the country saw an overall drop in crime last year, but shoplifting is a notable exception. In Vancouver alone, the number of incidents is up 91 per cent over the past three years.
“It’s like, sell three items, and someone steals one,” Hill said.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s office says the historic levels of investment in the city’s policing and fire departments have helped bring crime under control, pointing out that the annual rate of growth in shoplifting slowed last year to levels lower than in other municipalities around the Lower Mainland.
“We’ve heard overwhelmingly from businesses — especially in Gastown, the Downtown Eastside, Chinatown, downtown — that they are struggling, because crime and theft have really hurt them,” Sim said.
“So as a city, we are using all the tools that we can to react to these issues.”
Jane Talbot, CEO of Downtown Van BIA, says more needs to be done.
“Change can’t happen quickly enough,” Talbot said.
“We really need to see some very clear changes in downtown Vancouver around shoplifting.”
In April, the City of Vancouver launched the Retail Security Task Force with the aim of bringing together local stakeholders and coming up with policy solutions to this issue. However, the mayor’s office says the timeline for any results has been pushed back due to the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy.
Hill says she will keep waiting, but she isn’t sure for how long.
“I want to stay in the game of entrepreneurship and retail,” she said. “But I would like some help.”
