Posters promoting theft from Loblaws circulate online
Pictures of a poster encouraging people to steal from Loblaw Companies Limited next month on a specific date have been circulating online.
Despite stringent security measures put in place to prevent thefts, including security at many of their store entrances and Plexiglass barriers at most exits, posters circulating online are encouraging people to steal from the company on May 12.
Plexiglass barriers at the exit of a Superstore are pictured. (Hafsa Arif/CTV Atlantic)
The poster was originally spotted in Ontario and have now made their way to Atlantic Canada.
“It doesn’t really make sense to me. I don’t understand what the motive is behind that. Why would anyone want to steal?” said Othman Ali, a regular shopper at Superstore.
A poster encouraging people to steal from Loblaws. (Hafsa Arif/CTV Atlantic)In the last month, online groups have promoted a boycott of the Loblaws stores during the month of May, including the Superstore locations in the Maritimes; however, they have condemned the calls for theft.
“I would say that it’s a step too far to advocate for theft and stealing. I can certainly sympathize feeling that groceries are too expensive. I think everyone feels that right now,” said Ryan Stanley, a community member in Halifax.
Marketing analyst Ed McHugh said he is not surprised by these calls.
“Pre-internet this would have a really hard time getting momentum,” he said. “The internet attracts people and people of similar minds find each other.”
CTV News reached out to Loblaws for a reaction to the circulating poster, but they did not respond to questions specific to the online threats. Instead in a statement they said, “The last few years have been tough for Canadians and we continue to do what we can to combat inflation at our stores. We’re going to keep working hard to deliver on our commitment to value and to rebuild the trust grocers have enjoyed more than 100-years.”
An Atlantic Superstore is pictured. (CTV Atlantic)Halifax Regional Police told CTV News they have not heard anything from Loblaws about concerns related to the posters and were not aware of pictures of it circulating online.
McHugh said these extra security measures to prevent thefts will only result in costs getting passed down to shoppers, which would make groceries even more expensive.
“You’ll see a gradual price increase because measures like this,” he said. “You won’t see a quick, knee-jerk kind of one because that would (raise) the ire of people up higher, but it will reflect in high prices long-term, absolutely.”
Some retailers like Costco already have policies requiring shoppers to show their receipts before exiting the store and people continue to shop there. McHugh said people tend to have issues with retailers introducing new policies but they have no choice but accept these changes.
“When retailers start to put new procedures people have a problem with it, but I think we’ve got to get used to it,” he said. “It’s got to be part of shopping. If people aren’t happy with it, they could switch retailers.”
He said companies have free enterprise, and if they believe adding security will help prevent thefts, they can implement any procedure within the law.
Some people understand the anger towards high costs and say they also know people who steal groceries regularly.
“I’ve have had people discuss with me that pennies are tight right now so they have to take some stuff and I have also seen people steal things,” said shopper Maclean Rivers.
His friend, Patrick McKay said this reflects the anger people have with large grocers.
“It just seems like the reflection of a broader popular outrage towards what appears to be super high grocery prices and corporate greed and while I personally would never steal, I can understand the sentiment,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Feds hope to table foreign interference legislation next week: LeBlanc
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to table legislation this week to help the federal government address foreign interference, but he wouldn't say whether the proposal will include a foreign agent registry.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.