Richmond RCMP arrested 15 suspects and recovered over $5,000 in merchandise during an Oct. 18 operation targeting retail theft in downtown Richmond, according to a release on Wednesday (Nov. 5).
One of the suspects was arrested twice at separate locations during the operation, and two were minors. Police said the majority of the arrested individuals do not live in Richmond.
Retail theft has been an ongoing concern in the downtown Richmond area, with reports of shoplifting having increased by 25 per cent during 2024.
Cpl. Pierre Beauchamp said in the release that much of the shoplifting is organized, and goods are stolen for the purpose of resale.
The resale of food and health products through unregulated channels creates “real health and safety risks to the public,” Beauchamp said.
The operation was part of the Boost & Bust initiative, a project funded partly by the provincial government with the aim of helping law enforcement groups crack down on shoplifting.
Sally Ji is a Kwantlen Polytechnic University practicum student working with Black Press Media.