Uptown Askew鈥檚 Foods manager Heather Turner would rather see money go to community needs, and not measures to deter shoplifting.
However, increasing difficulties with theft, and theft attempts, have pushed the Shuswap grocer to invest in efforts to address product loss while protecting staff and customers.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always had shoplifters, but not this extent. It鈥檚 really been bad,鈥� said Turner, suggesting incidents of shoplifting began to rise in December, and have been particularly prominent over the past few months.
鈥淚t鈥檚 discouraging. I know all the staff and all the stores work hard, we want to provide our customers nice products and we want to support the community as much as we can, but when we鈥檙e having this theft it makes it harder and harder to do that. It chips away at all the things you want to do.鈥�
In addition to asking customers to use the store鈥檚 provided grocery baskets and carts, and not shop into reusable grocery bags, Askew鈥檚 will also be installing a gate system at the entryway.
鈥淪o when you come in the in-doors, you can鈥檛 go out the in-doors,鈥� said Turner, noting how in one recent incident a pair of people worked together, with one going inside to gather goods while the other waited by the in-door, ready to activate it. Intervening staff prevented a shopping buggy with $600 worth of groceries from going out the door.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just doing whatever we can to deter these people,鈥� said Turner. 鈥淲e鈥檒l probably be putting in a locked bathroom door so you鈥檒l have to get a key鈥� Which is obviously a major inconvenience for 99 per cent of our customers, but we鈥檙e being forced into this situation where we have to do something.鈥�
Askew鈥檚 Foods general manager Dave Wallace said the same thing is being experienced at all Askew鈥檚 locations, where deterrence measures are also being taken.
鈥淲e feel it is organized, as right now it is no longer just someone stealing a steak or a block of cheese,鈥� said Wallace. 鈥淭hey are going out the door with buggies and baskets鈥� there are getaway vehicles waiting right outside our doors.鈥�
Speaking off record, staff at two other large Salmon Arm retailers shared similar experiences and noted the increase in shoplifting is being experienced by businesses throughout town. This was supported by Salmon Arm RCMP Staff Sgt. Scott West, who said Salmon Arm has seen an increase in shoplifting over 2023.
鈥淥n average, there have been 7 more shoplifting complaints from local stores per month in 2024,鈥� said West in an email. 鈥淭he thefts have included retail stores in a broader geographic area of our city.鈥�
Asked if there鈥檚 an element of organization behind the increase, West commented, 鈥淚t appears that there (is) more than one person involved in some of these shoplifting crimes.鈥�
鈥淚n the past, we have seen instances of repeat shoplifters in our area that are operating over large geographic areas,鈥� said West. 鈥淭hese types of thefts are transient in nature as the criminals travel and target non-perishable retail items.鈥�
Wallace is appreciative of the help received from the RCMP, but said he realizes their hands are tied and that it can be frustrating when charges aren鈥檛 approved after a suspect has been identified and there is video footage of them leaving the store with groceries.
Both Turner and Wallace shared their appreciation of the community鈥檚 support and understanding, stressing the deterrence measures are in response to a significant challenge.
鈥淲e thank everybody for their understanding 鈥� It鈥檚 not necessarily a friendly greeting to our locations but we just can鈥檛 go on with the rampant theft that鈥檚 happening,鈥� said Wallace.
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