'People are more desperate': B.C. shoplifting numbers rise along with inflation - also huge spike in abusive behaviour

[CdnFox]

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/bc-shoplifting-numbers-rise-inflation

Along with the increased shoplifting, B.C. retailers are reporting a huge spike in abusive behaviour toward sales staff and cashiers.

The Retail Council of Canada says that on average retail thefts have risen by about 300 per cent since the pandemic began in 2020.

“There is absolutely an increase in (shoplifting) incidents and in volume of goods stolen, that’s the first thing our members consistently tell us,” said Greg Wilson, director of government relations and regulatory affairs for the Retail Council. “There’s no difference between types of stores, with a few exceptions.

And more alarmingly, retailers are reporting a huge spike in abusive behaviour toward sales staff and cashiers.

“We’re very concerned about the dramatic increase in violence in retail stores,” Wilson said. “Honestly, just the harassment of frontline retail workers, I don’t think I’ve ever talked to a government official before about concern about retail store workers being harassed.”

“But also we’ve seen people who are repeat offenders and we’ve dealt with the same people 18, 30, 40 times in some cases. It almost seems like the system has no way to properly address people who are in that type of crisis who are hurting other people along the way.”

 

 

All of the problems we've discussed here are combining to create more and more social unrest.  People can't afford homes.  People can't afford groceries.  People are angry and covid divided the country LARGELY DUE TO HOW THE LIBERALS HANDLED IT.  Repeat offenders of crimes face no consequences.

This is going to get worse and it will start to show up in other places.  Canadians feel hopeless, they are torn apart and angry at each other, and at the system.  If something isn't done to change that, if we don't get leadership that can put us back together, those fractures will quickly become permanent.

[OftenWrong]

56 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

Canadians feel hopeless, they are torn apart and angry at each other, and at the system.  If something isn't done to change that, if we don't get leadership that can put us back together, those fractures will quickly become permanent.

I blame Justin Trudeau for the division he's created in this country. It really became obvious by his comments during Covid. His finance minister is inept as well. Get her out of here.

[CdnFox]

Just now, OftenWrong said:

I blame Justin Trudeau for the division he's created in this country. It really became obvious by his comments during Covid. His finance minister is inept as well. Get her out of here.

There can be absolutely no doubt that Justin bears a huge hunk if not all of the blame for the divisions.  Everything he's done has served to divide people, nothing he's done has been about bringing people together.  He weaponized covid to try to win an election, and he set the example by calling anyone who didn't take a shot  "bigots and mysoginists", and claimed they were a waste of space and mused on how canadians will have to decide if they're going to tolerate them at all.

Then with the truckers situation he deliberately antagonized them to start with, then refused to speak with them or acknowledge them - then declared the emergency act to suppress their peaceful protest and attack their supporters.

HE's deliberately worked up first nations against the rest of canada, the gays and trans against straights.  East against west and taught the poor to blame the rich for their problems. (while neglecting to mention hes' one of the rich).

The anger generated by that is enormous - add in the stress of the current financial mess and boom.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, CdnFox said:

This is going to get worse and it will start to show up in other places. 

Am already starting to see it. 

Businesses with 4-5 security guards in their branches, especially Pharmacies. 

Seen homeless people eating grapes, and spitting out the seeds in the grape stand. 

I don't think I could ever buy grapes again, after seeing that o_O

I had a homeless person that had made the trek to my neighborhood, for some reason chose my driveway I guess due to cover from the tree and my vehicle in the driveway, and lack of lighting, to charge their phone in my outlet.

You can imagine my jump, as I open my door at 4AM, to get to work, and see a silhouette.

He is insanely lucky, I approached with calmness, as my instincts were all over the place, thinking stick up, and running to get a weapon.

He apologized, and I invested in lights that automatically shut off for in front of my front door, this way my entire house is lit overnight.

Never thought I would have to do anything like this.

Am seeing gangs of drug addict try to play decoy, in a way only a crackhead could. By scanning all around in the most obvious way...making staff flag security, while another loads up their bags with goods. 

I saw this work once. O_o

The security stopped the wrong decoy, while the other booked it. Bag full of stuff. 

Keep shit policies, and many major cities will follow in San Frans footsteps where parking downtown is you "asking" for a smash and dash robbery of your car. 

Once my city gets there, I move to Texas or Manila with the wife, and we arm up with more firepower.

[Moonlight Graham]

All crime is up across Canada. All types of thefts are up as is violent crime.  People are feeling the economic pain, and pandemic isolation didn't help mental health:

https://globalnews.ca/news/9860239/vehicle-theft-robberies-2022-statistics-canada/

[Michael Hardner]

27 minutes ago, OftenWrong said:

I blame Justin Trudeau for the division he's created in this country. It really became obvious by his comments during Covid. His finance minister is inept as well. Get her out of here.

It's a long road to where we are, watched over by several ideologies in several countries.  Blaming this on any one man is ridiculous IMO

[CdnFox]

9 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

It's a long road to where we are, watched over by several ideologies in several countries.  Blaming this on any one man is ridiculous IMO

It is  a short 7 year road, and making excuses for the obvious cause is ridiculous.

It is easy to point to the rather huge number of specific examples that are directly the result of Trudeau's actions.  This is enirely on trudeau - we were not a nation divided in the slightest when harper left power - today we are.  And step by step you can see how it happened, and yes it's trudeau.

[Michael Hardner]

19 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

1. It is  a short 7 year road, and making excuses for the obvious cause is ridiculous.

2. This is enirely on trudeau - we were not a nation divided in the slightest when harper left power - today we are.   

1. Even 7 years is a long time, and when you take into account the events that happen our PM had miniscule influence.
2. Well, we WERE.  You can search posts on here for evidence.  And are you saying the divisiveness is on him or the economic situation ?  Or Both ?

[Nationalist]

For your listening pleasure...I think this is rather apt here...

 

[ExFlyer]

Crime in general is up all over rte country.

Shoplifting is up, or rather shoplifters are being caught as more and more stores are using cameras nowadays. I think shoplifting has always been an issue but was difficult to prosecute. I read a news item several years ago that said it cost Canadians $5 billion a year.

With the high cost of groceries, I am not surprised those stores are seeing increases but, am also not surprised they are catching more shoplifters.

[Nationalist]

2 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

It's a long road to where we are, watched over by several ideologies in several countries.  Blaming this on any one man is ridiculous IMO

True. But we can control...or maybe a better term might be "put a shorter leash on" Pixie-Dust.

[eyeball]

1 minute ago, Nationalist said:

True. But we can control...or maybe a better term might be "put a shorter leash on" Pixie-Dust.

Control how exactly - what do you mean by a shorter leash? A shorter term in office, more obedience or just obedience? You've used the word unleash a lot the last little while too. Presumably that means no control or whatsoever.

[myata]

Why should they be? Can't they have brio.. no scratch that, one-time assistance only by our great generosity. What?

[Nationalist]

13 minutes ago, eyeball said:

Control how exactly - what do you mean by a shorter leash? A shorter term in office, more obedience or just obedience? You've used the word unleash a lot the last little while too. Presumably that means no control or whatsoever.

Vote of no confidence would be marvie. But that odd fellow who had so much trouble gaining his own HOC seat seems to like ol' Pixie-Dust. Meanwhile the nation flounders and is perpetually embarrassed of our own PM.

Meh...we'll have to yank his choker in the next election I guess.

Edited July 27, 2023 by Nationalist

[OftenWrong]

4 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

It's a long road to where we are, watched over by several ideologies in several countries.  Blaming this on any one man is ridiculous IMO

He is the PM of Canada. Those others you are trying to use as deflection, havenothing to do with us.

Part of the role of being the top dog is to also be the fall guy, when the system you rule over collapses into a sheisser-gebaude. And that's Canada.

....

"To bury Caesar,  ..."  

[eyeball]

Is it fair to say we'll be treated to at least 5 years of excuses and apologies that nothing is Poilievre's fault because of the mess he inherited?

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, eyeball said:

Is it fair to say we'll be treated to at least 5 years of excuses and apologies that nothing is Poilievre's fault because of the mess he inherited?

It worked for Biden. ?‍♂️

[CdnFox]

5 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

1. Even 7 years is a long time, and when you take into account the events that happen our PM had miniscule influence.
 

In a 150 year history which included previous pandemics and two world wars - that is a VERY short period of time.  And it doesnt' happen by accident.

And what the PM  DID have influence over is whether he chose to act to bring people together during the difficult time or to split them apart. He chose the latter, and that was a very deliberate choice

Quote

2. Well, we WERE.  You can search posts on here for evidence.  And are you saying the divisiveness is on him or the economic situation ?  Or Both ?

No, we WEREN"T.   Sure people disagreed on a number of issues - but the bloc was reduced to 4 seats because quebec felt included , western alienation literally died to nothing with the vast majority being content with being in canada - the whole 'gay marriage' issue was firmly put to bed and never came up again, and gays and heteros were pretty solidly at peace for the most part.  East-west tensions were reduced,  people prospered even with the recession, there was a strong sense of optimism and that canada was 'doing it right' fiscally.

 

Compare that to now - we were very much a country united then and are very much a country divided now.

[Michael Hardner]

2 hours ago, OftenWrong said:

 

1. Part of the role of being the top dog is to also be the fall guy, when the system you rule over collapses into a sheisser-gebaude. And that's Canada.

....

"To bury Caesar,  ..."  

Yes of course, and we're seeing the political chickens coming home to roost.  But really, it's not him.

[CdnFox]

8 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

Yes of course, and we're seeing the political chickens coming home to roost.  But really, it's not him.

Really it's him.

[OftenWrong]

14 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

But really, it's not him.

In some significant ways it is. Please see "Canada's standard of living is lagging behind its peers", for one.

Other things he's done bringing discontent and division are more cultural-impact related.

Cultural marxism.

 

Edited July 28, 2023 by OftenWrong

[Michael Hardner]

18 minutes ago, OftenWrong said:

1. "Canada's standard of living is lagging behind its peers", for one.

2. Other things he's done bringing discontent and division are more cultural-impact related.

3. Cultural marxism.

 

1. That is solid evidence, at least.
2. Even harder to provide hard evidence of "culture" issues.  I can show you films from 1955 that worry about "the youth"
3. Not a thing, but a cute political catch-phrase, kinda like "the war on Christmas"  A substitute for real problems, to be disposed of like a fast food wrapper after the next election.

[CdnFox]

2 hours ago, OftenWrong said:

In some significant ways it is. Please see "Canada's standard of living is lagging behind its peers", for one.

Other things he's done bringing discontent and division are more cultural-impact related.

Cultural marxism.

 

the cultural impact is one of the easiest to track and probably his greatest crime.  We will eventually recover from the financail hit - even if it does take us 40 years.  But i think hes' actually divided canadians pretty much permanently.  I think he has demolished 155 years of tradition of the "good neighbour" where canadians mostly help each other and we all look to be reasonable and caring in our activities.  I think those days are gone, and we've become polarized, spiteful, tribal and focused on what's in it for us individually rather than how to work together.

 

[WestCanMan]

On 7/27/2023 at 10:59 AM, Michael Hardner said:

1. Even 7 years is a long time, and when you take into account the events that happen our PM had miniscule influence.
2. Well, we WERE.  You can search posts on here for evidence.  And are you saying the divisiveness is on him or the economic situation ?  Or Both ?

We weren't.

The rise of the Bloc with Trudeau as PM is one example, but it's plain to see now in the daily routine.

I never would have said that I feel nothing but hatred and contempt for LPOC supporters before 2016, I'm well past being done with leftists now. 

[CdnFox]

24 minutes ago, WestCanMan said:

We weren't.

The rise of the Bloc with Trudeau as PM is one example, but it's plain to see now in the daily routine.

I never would have said that I feel nothing but hatred and contempt for LPOC supporters before 2016, I'm well past being done with leftists now. 

But we were when harper left .  The bloc was diminished, western alienation was never an issue, alberta wasn't nearly as pissed about equalization, people had a positive outlook for the country etc etc.

Now we're far worse than we've ever been in history.