July 25,2025
RED FM News Desk
A citizen group working to reduce street disorder in B.C. says federal crime statistics don’t reflect the full reality on the ground.
On Tuesday, Statistics Canada reported that police-reported crime in Canada saw its first annual decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic, ending a three-year trend of rising incidents and severity. The decline in the 2024 crime severity index was largely due to a 6% drop in non-violent crimes, including property and drug offences.
However, the group Save Our Streets told Global News that these numbers are misleading because many individuals and businesses have stopped reporting crimes.
“It’s forcing some businesses to shut down and causing job losses in certain communities,” said Jess Ketchum, co-founder of the group.
Meanwhile, shoplifting appears to be rising. Canada-wide, incidents of shoplifting under $5,000 increased by 66%. In B.C., shoplifting offences have risen nearly 80% over the past four years, according to Statistics Canada.
“We’ve heard especially from people in the Kootenays that they’ve stopped reporting these crimes because they feel police simply don’t have the resources to respond,” Ketchum said.
Clint Mahlman, president and COO of London Drugs, added that shoplifting often leads to violent confrontations with staff. “Physical assaults, death threats, and weapons like needles, pipes, and hammers are routine and put employees at serious risk,” he said.
Mahlman noted that additional security and a stronger police presence have helped reduce incidents at their downtown Vancouver stores.
B.C. recorded 20,486 shoplifting incidents in 2020, rising to 36,851 in 2024 — a 79.8% increase. Despite this, only 4,040 people were charged last year, and it remains unclear how many of those cases resulted in convictions.
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