Vancouver police to host retail crime forum

The Vancouver Police Department is hosting a forum Thursday to address retail crime.

Business owners say it’s an issue that’s been on the rise in recent years and they’re fed up.

More than 200 business, law enforcement, and public policy leaders have been invited to attend the event at Robson Square. The group will discuss possible solutions to organized retail crime and violence impacting small businesses.

The panel of experts will include VPD inspectors, the Retail Council of Canada and loss prevention experts.

Topics will range from target-hardening and crime prevention, to advanced security techniques, employee safety, and policing strategies.

“Retailers right across Canada continue to feel the effects of organized thefts and violence, which not only impacts their livelihoods, but also puts staff and customers in danger,” says Insp. Sarah Burnham, commanding officer of VPD’s District 4, which includes Kitsilano, Kerrisdale, Oakridge, and West Broadway.

According to the VPD, there was a 12 per cent increase in shoplifting incidents in 2024 compared to 2023. There was a 40 per cent jump in shoplifting incidents in Vancouver’s downtown during the same time period and a three per cent increase in robberies.

In 2023, the VPD launched Project Barcode to combat violent and chronic shoplifters.

The initiative uses a variety of tactics including plainclothes officers arresting thieves.

Since the project started, the VPD says its anti-shoplifting and anti-fencing initiatives have led to approximately 1,500 arrests and the recovery of more than $1.4 million in stolen property.

The VPD says the goal of Thursday’s forum is not only to raise awareness, but also to share best practices, solutions, and insights from industry leaders, law enforcement, and other experts.

The department says the event is not just about protecting inventory or reducing losses; it’s about creating a safe environment for employees and customers, ensuring long-term profitability for businesses, and preserving the integrity of the retail sector.

Commercial break-and-enters in the city are down 23 per cent compared to last year according to data on the VPD’s website from the last eight weeks.

However anecdotally, that’s not what many businesses, particularly on the Downtown Eastside, say they have experienced.