Vancouver shoplifting ‘crackdown’ leads to 200+ arrests

Police in Vancouver say 217 people were arrested over a three-week period during a “crackdown” on shoplifting.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says “Project Barcode,” which ran from Feb. 15 to March 10, saw officers and stores team up to help catch “known offenders and other shoplifters.”

Officers stayed outside of participating retailers, which included dollar stores, grocery stores and clothing retailers, while employees inside the stores kept an eye out for shoplifters.

#VPDNews Vancouver Police made more than 200 arrests and recovered $80,000 in stolen merchandise during a three-week crackdown on chronic and violent shoplifters throughout the city.

Media Release: https://t.co/LgdFnT5EQL pic.twitter.com/ayGbT2KVmI

— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) March 29, 2023

If a suspect was spotted by a staff member, they told the waiting police officers and then were arrested outside.

“The cooperation between police and store staff allowed VPD to easily apprehend thieves while minimizing the violence retail employees often face when attempting to stop people from stealing,” a VPD release notes.

Over the course of the operation, police say 47 repeat offenders were arrested, and out of the over 200 arrested, there was a combined total of 4,695 previous convictions.

Police say nearly 280 new charges have been recommended to the Crown council as part of the arrests. Nearly $80,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered, police added.

“Though still vastly unreported by retailers, shoplifting incidents in Vancouver rose more than 30 per cent in 2022, compared to the previous year. On average, there were more than 20 violent shoplifting incidents reported to VPD each month last year,” the release reads.

Knife and machete threats

In three recent cases, police say staff members were threatened with weapons, and merchandise was stolen.

In one case, police say the same man was arrested four times during the three weeks. In one incident, police say he was arrested after going into a clothing store where he “threatened to kill staff with a knife,” before grabbing merchandise and leaving.

He was later arrested and is facing charges of assault with a weapon, theft over $5,000, and two counts of failing to comply.

In another case, police say a man who had been convicted of 37 offences over several years, allegedly robbed two dollar stores on the same day.

Police say at a dollar store near Granville Street and Dunsmuir Street he allegedly “pulled out a knife to threaten staff,” and left with stolen products.

The same suspect then went to another store near Main Street and East Hastings Street, where police say a similar interaction took place.

He was arrested afterward and has been charged with possession of a weapon and uttering threats.

In another case, police say a man allegedly threatened a hardware store’s security with a machete and stole over $1,000 of merchandise.

He has since been charged with robbery.