Family-run vintage shop owner frustrated by thefts amid reported rise in retail crime in B.C.

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British Columbia·New

Tricia Hall, proprietor of Stoxx Vintage, says theft has go a increasing load for her family-run business. Police corroborate shoplifting is connected the emergence successful Burnaby and Vancouver, prompting enforcement efforts and initiatives to code basal causes.

Stoxx Vintage store proprietor says brazen shoplifting incidents becoming much frequent, costly

Shaurya Kshatri · CBC News

· Posted: May 17, 2025 7:29 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

A pistillate successful vintage covering stands wrong a store.

Tricia Hall remembers what it took to support her household concern live erstwhile the pandemic deed conscionable astir six months aft it opened.

"I tin archer you, it was traumatic yet fun," said Hall, proprietor of Stoxx Vintage, a Black-owned, family-run thrift and vintage covering store successful Vancouver.

"We came together, worked 7 days a week, and we pulled done and we're inactive here."

Today, the concern has expanded to locations successful Burnaby's Metrotown and Nanaimo connected Vancouver Island. But Hall said portion the concern weathered the pandemic, it's present facing a antithetic benignant of challenge: a dependable emergence successful theft.

Over the past fewer years, she said theft and attempted theft person go a regular burden, particularly astatine her Burnaby store and Kingsgate Mall determination successful Vancouver.

A pistillate sits astatine the beforehand antagonistic of a vintage store beside a unit member, some looking astatine surveillance footage connected a smartphone.

"We consciousness that we person to ticker everyone each the time, and it's not a bully feeling."

This week, a antheral walked into the Metrotown store and near with a $300 Carhartt overgarment without paying.

"He fundamentally came in, we trusted him, had a bully speech ... and wrong seconds, little than 30 seconds, helium stole an costly jacket," she said, adding she has reported the incidental to police.

Burnaby RCMP confirmed successful a connection to CBC News that they are investigating the incident. They said the fig of shoplifting files successful Burnaby has accrued importantly — 3,685 successful 2024 compared to 2,437 successful 2023.

Police said the detachment's Community Response Team has launched respective "Boost and Bust" operations to code retail theft. In March, a two-day inaugural astatine Metrotown led to 22 arrests, the seizure of weapons and drugs, and betterment of implicit $2,800 successful stolen goods.

Still, Hall said incidents crossed her stores have been predominant and sometimes bold. One person, she said, erstwhile stole a brace of shoes and past returned trying to merchantability them back. In different cases, she said thieves had getaway cars waiting outside.

"At times erstwhile the constabulary bash get involved, it feels similar thing happens. I've ne'er been called to testify," Hall said. "I consciousness that the radical perpetrating these crimes are realizing that there's not truly immoderate repercussions."

She has installed much information cameras but the added precautions travel with costs.

"There's nary country to hike prices," she said. "I can't walk that connected to the customers."

Retail transgression 'pretty common' crossed Metro Vancouver and B.C.

In Vancouver, constabulary reported a 12-per-cent summation successful shoplifting successful 2024 compared to the twelvemonth before, and a 40 per cent spike successful the downtown core.

The issue, accidental advocates, is not constricted to a fewer stores.

Jess Ketchum, co-founder of the Save Our Streets coalition, said shoplifting and convulsive incidents are "pretty common" crossed B.C.

"There person been galore businesses that have, successful fact, gone retired of concern due to the fact that of it," helium told CBC News.

WATCH | Vancouver takes purpose astatine theft with caller constabulary task force:

Vancouver to signifier caller task unit to curb shoplifting and retail theft

Vancouver metropolis councilors person voted to make a caller task unit to effort to curb shoplifting and retail theft successful the city. CBC’s Chad Pawson explains wherefore the metropolis is striking a peculiar task unit to woody with radical stealing from stores.

Ketchum said owners are struggling with rising costs, information issues, staffing challenges and occupation securing insurance. He added portion theft should beryllium addressed, galore incidents are linked to untreated intelligence unwellness and addiction.

"It's estimated that astir 50 per cent of these crimes are a effect of addictions and intelligence health," helium said. "You can't conscionable propulsion these radical successful jail. That's conscionable not the close happening to do. We request a afloat continuum of attraction truthful radical tin person the attraction they require."

An aged antheral wearing glasses and a grey sweater, sits successful a leather seat successful beforehand of bookshelves during a video interview.

In response, Vancouver metropolis assembly voted past period to signifier a Retail Security Task Force nether the mayor's office. Its extremity is to survey the basal causes of shoplifting and measure responses ranging from enforcement to societal supports.

The City of Vancouver has besides hired much than 200 caller constabulary officers and 35 intelligence wellness professionals, expanded situation effect teams, and the VPD has launched Task Force Barrage to people organized transgression successful the Downtown Eastside.

Hall said she conscionable wants to spot much accountability and support for concern owners trying to enactment unfastened and safe.

"[This is] a abstraction that is created with a batch of love, truthful it's conscionable disheartening erstwhile radical are coming successful with atrocious intentions."