‘I hogtie them, I do what I need to’: Shoplifting leaves B.C. businesses calling for action

Property crime continues to sweep parts of the province, according to a new survey of merchants.

A new survey of B.C. businesses suggests non-violent crime could be a bigger issue than most thought.

Business Improvement Areas of B.C. surveyed 260 businesses in November, and found almost 90 per cent believe non-violent repeat crime—including thefts, vandalism and break-ins—has a moderate to very significant impact locally.

Nearly 40 per cent of businesses surveyed reported annual losses exceeding $5,000 from non-violent crime, with many reporting figures into the tens of thousands of dollars.

“I think people would be shocked to understand what exactly is being lost annually in Vancouver and around the province,” said Patricia Barnes, BIABC vice-president.

The number of thefts is hard to gauge in many areas because some businesses owners don’t report thefts and other non-violent crime, the BIABC said.

The organization did share some figures from some of B.C.’s major cities.

In Kamloops, the local BIA reported losses linked to this form of criminality exceeded $1 million last year. Another in downtown Victoria estimated graffiti removal alone cost $1 million in 2025, and another in Prince George estimated more than $4.2 million in downtown losses that year.

At the crossroads of Vancouver and Burnaby, the BIABC said the Collingwood neighbourhood spent $59,600 addressing non-violent crime in 2025 and is expected to spend $93,500 in 2026.

In North Vancouver, the BIA said theft and fraud have increased 18 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively, since 2023.

Vancouver business struck again

Overnight, the Wildlife Thrift Store on Granville Street had its windows smashed, leaving thousands of dollars’ worth of damage and merchandise stolen.

Owner Karla Ahlqvist spoke to CTV News hours later and said the situation is “sad” after years of trying to operate in the downtown core.

The business has faced repeated property damage, theft and even a fire in 2025, the latter of which was sparked inside the store by what appeared to be a customer.

On the police response, Ahlqvist said: “We actually told them to go away so we could board it up and continue with business. We’ve already suffered losses.”

“The point is there needs to be consequences for the offenders,” she said.

She is calling on more enforcement, stricter bail laws and additional rehabilitation facilities to help those with mental health and addiction issues.

The calls for change are echoed across Vancouver.

Dave Dove, owner of The Goods on East Hastings, explained that he hasn’t seen a drop nor a spike in non-violent crime but that could be because he takes matters into his own hands

“I thwart many of the shoplifters. I would never ask my staff to do so, but I chase people down, I catch them, I hog tie them, I do what I need to,” said Dove.

He says the theft can range from $20 into the hundreds.

Dove and the BIABC are both asking levels government to streamline and simplify the reporting process of non-violent crimes.

The further action the BIA is asking for includes better coordination across the justice system, targeted programs focused on repeat non-violent offenders, and practical tools that make reporting easier and provide feedback to those who take the time to report incidents.

The province responds

The B.C. government responded to the BIABC’s survey with a statement calling small businesses the economic engine of communities, and acknowledging the impact these incidents have on them.

“Through programs like the Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program (C-STEP), we are helping to fund police operations targeting robbery, shoplifting and other property crimes, providing police with tools to tackle street disorder and support safer communities throughout B.C.,” the province said in a statement.

According to the statement, C-STEP has supported 40 police operations in 26 communities in B.C., with 336 investigations into individuals.

The province also said that in December, it launched a pilot in Kelowna, Nanaimo, and Nelson to address chronic property crime and public disorder.