New West police are teaming up with business organizations to target shoplifting year-round.
The New Westminster Police Department has announced it is once again launching an initiative to combat shoplifting and violent thefts in local businesses. Building on the success of past projects, the police department’s Crime Reduction Unit is continuing its partnership with Downtown and Uptown business improvement associations to address this “persistent” issue.
“We take shoplifting seriously all year long,” NWPD Sgt. Sean Schultz said in a news release. “I won’t say when and I won’t say where, but if you are going to shoplift, you can expect to meet the Crime Reduction Unit.”
According to the NWPD, the initiative focuses on raising awareness, deterring potential offenders, and ensuring a safe shopping environment for both staff and customers. The NWPD noted shoplifting often involves risks of injury to employees and the public, as well as significant financial losses to businesses.
“Employees and customers should not have to face violence in retail environments,” said NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Leaver. “Business owners and staff have had enough, and we’re here to support them.”
The New Westminster Police Department believes that shoplifting and violent thefts are often under-reported.
The police department encourages retail staff to report incidents by calling 604-525-5411 or, in the case of thefts in progress, 911. Online reporting is also available for certain non-emergency situations at www.nwpolice.org.
This project is funded in part by the Special Investigations and Targeted Enforcement Program, under the provincial government’s Safer Communities Action Plan.
Any retailers seeking safety and crime prevention resources or looking to collaborate with the Crime Reduction Unit are encouraged to contact Sgt. Sean Schultz at [email protected].
The shoplifting campaign isn’t the first time the New Westminster Police Department has teamed up with the business community to address chronic shoplifting.
A previous campaign, Project Barcode, resulted in 18 arrests over three days in late 2023. The NWPD’s Crime Reduction Unit, Street Crime Unit, and Gang Suppression Unit worked with retail loss prevention staff to identify and arrest violent and chronic shoplifters; it was done in response to concerns from local businesses about theft and increased violence when retailers try to intervene, and the impact this has on businesses operations and safety.
