A targeted enforcement initiative at Metrotown to address concerns about organized retail theft resulted in the recovery of more than $5,400 worth of stolen merchandise in a single evening.

On Saturday, August 3, members of Burnaby RCMP’s Community Response Team (CRT) undertook a special project focusing on prolific shoplifters targeting stores at Metrotown around closing time.

Within just two hours, four people were arrested.

In one case, two men are alleged to have walked away from a store after grabbing two racks worth of athletic clothing worth approximately $3,500. In another instance, a woman is alleged to have walked out of a store with more than $1,300 worth of stolen clothing in hand.

“We continue to address concerns we hear from our retail community. This type of enforcement isn’t just about recovering stolen goods, it’s also about ensuring the safety of retail workers and the public,” said Cpl. Sean McInnes with Burnaby RCMP’s Community Response Team.

Burnaby RCMP also continues to lead efforts such as ‘Boost and Bust’ anti-shoplifting operations, which often involve several agencies and partners such as security and loss prevention officers.

“We take organized retail theft seriously,” said McInnes. “Our officers continue to work with our crime analysts and retailers to focus on areas and times when these types of thefts are most frequently occurring, allowing us to tackle emerging crime trends affecting our community.”