Vancouver business owners request more police in midst of violent shoplifting surge
Posted December 8, 2019 8:31 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The mayor of Vancouver is promising more police will be deployed to help stop what many downtown store owners say is a dramatic rise in violent shoplifting.
Mayor Kennedy Stewart says he’s heard similar concerns about escalating crime from police Chief Adam Palmer and targeted operations have begun to try to crack down on the problem.
On Tuesday City council is scheduled to vote on Vancouver’s 2020 budget, which includes money for 25 new police officers and 10 civilian employees as part of a planned 17-million-dollar increase in the police force budget.
Stewart has promised that most of the new officers will be deployed to high-crime areas, with a focus on reducing property crime.
