A northern Ontario convenience store owner says a recent spate of thefts involving youths, alcohol and weapons highlights growing safety concerns within the industry. The incidents occurred at Churchill Convenience on Bancroft Drive in Greater Sudbury. Store owner Kalrav Barot, who operates three locations in the city, said the Churchill location has been targeted 10 times for alcohol theft, most recently last Thursday by five youths, aged 15 to 16. Employee threatened with weapons The confrontation escalated dramatically when an employee attempted to intervene, Barot told CTV News. “My employee tried to tell them ... don’t take our product, but the boys, keep telling my employee that ‘I will kill you. I will kill you,’” he said. “He tried to go away to the door side just to leave them here. So that’s why he showed him a handgun and the knife.” Barot said the majority of the thefts are by underage teens. His store is not the only one in the region being targeted. “We have the small store and we try to do our best to serve the community,” he said. “At the same time, we are expecting that we are not getting this kind of … problem.” Justice system is the core issue The sale of alcohol in convenience stores has been a long-sought goal for the industry. Not everyone agrees that it is driving theft. Terry Yaldo, chair of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association, has been advocating for alcohol sales for two decades. While he acknowledges theft is increasing, he disagrees that alcohol in stores is the primary cause. Instead, Yaldo points to failures in the justice system. “I’m not a fan of our current justice system and allowing some of these repeat offenders to constantly, you know, go through that revolving door,” he said. “There are a lot of resources that go into catching them. The police have to report, you know, going to court and then all of a sudden, you know, nothing is happening to deter them.” Financial and human toll As a store owner in Windsor for nearly 30 years, Yaldo emphasized that the financial impact of retail theft is ultimately borne by business owners and consumers. “It’s going to cost me and you money,” he said. “As a business owner, any single theft in my business comes out of my pay, you know, indirectly because that dollar or $10 or whatever amount is that much less that I get to take home, you know, and it’s very discouraging as a business owner.” Both men underscored that employee safety is a paramount concern, noting that staff often work alone, leaving them vulnerable. Yaldo said he fears that the situation could escalate if not addressed, saying he fears it might get to a point where someone loses their life.
