Shoplifting surge: Numbers increase in Maritimes as economy sours
They're likely on the low side, but new shoplifting numbers from Statistics Canada show significant increases in the Maritimes.
Experts say it probably has a lot to do with inflation and the struggling economy, but retailers are the ones paying the price.
"It's a growing problem -- billions of dollars a year," said Jim Cormier, Atlantic director of the Retail Council of Canada, noting that was the case even before the pandemic.
Shoplifting numbers dropped during the lockdowns, he says, but have been steadily creeping up since -- especially with inflation on the rise.
It's costly and sometimes dangerous.
"This is not a victimless crime," said Cormier.
"These are situations where you're putting retail staff in harm's way, where they can't just simply stand by and watch somebody walk out the door with sometimes thousands of dollars worth of product."
On Monday, CTV News reported how a half-dozen stores on or near Spring Garden Road have started limiting customer access.
The move was not surprising to the executive director of the Spring Garden Area Business Association.
"I think it's just that we're in lean times here in the Maritimes, and people are desperate, and the amount of theft is on the increase," said Sue Uteck.
It's all reflected in the latest available crime numbers from Stats Canada.
Expressed as a rate per 100-thousand residents, the national shoplifting average was 248 -- up about 3 per cent over 2020.
The percentage was ten times that in the city of Saint John, N.B., although the overall rate was lower at 189.
At 453 per 100-thousand, shoplifting was more of an issue in Moncton, N.B., and up 36 per cent year over year.
The Halifax rate was almost 400 in 2021, but the percentage change was logged at an astonishing 1,484 per cent, but it turns out that has more to do with the meaning of words, than the actual crime.
"They've changed the definition of what shoplifting is," said Michael Boudreau, a criminology and criminal justice professor at St. Thomas University in Fredericton.
"So, before, a retail theft was part of this [category] of theft under $5,000, but now they're calling everything under $5,000 Shoplifting," said Boudreau.
There's no word why the change was made.
In a statement to CTV News Monday, Halifax Regional Police (HRP) conceded the numbers were rising.
"Like many regions across the country, we have seen an increase in retail theft and break and enters particularly since 2020, including in Halifax," said HRP public information officer Const. John MacLeod.
"We do not know all the reasons driving this increase -- but we are aware and working closely with community partners to work on solutions.“
All of it leads to a pointed question, according to Boudreau.
"Does that mean we have a serious crime problem on our hands? I would argue not necessarily, but from a retail merchant's perspective, if they are losing money because of thefts, then they're going to see that -- rightly so -- as a very serious issue."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Luxury cruise line selling world cruise suite for US$1.7 million
Luxury operator Regent Seven Seas Cruises is raising their price tag to eye-watering levels, with a suite on an upcoming 140-day world voyage costing US$1.7 million.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace
A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
King Charles will attend Easter Sunday service at Windsor
Buckingham Palace officials say King Charles III and Queen Camilla will attend an Easter service at the chapel at Windsor Castle on Sunday.