The event drew representatives from across the country, and came amid a growing focus on organized retail theft and incidents that have increasingly resulted in violence.
Vancouver police hosted a forum on retail crime, attracting hundreds of participants from business, law enforcement, and government across Canada. The event addressed the growing issue of organized retail theft and associated violence. Vancouver police reported a 12% increase in shoplifting incidents, with many cases unreported. Retailers, including London Drugs, highlighted the catastrophic impact of crime on their operations. Police are forming a new task force and implementing a pilot program to combat retail crime.
