Burnaby RCMP partnered with police agencies around the Lower Mainland last month for a regional crackdown on chronic and violent shoplifters.
The initiative, dubbed Project Barcode by the Vancouver Police Department, who launched it last spring, saw 28 arrests in Burnaby and the recovery of $11,511 in stolen goods between Sept. 12 and 22, according to Burnaby RCMP.
The first week of enforcement was in the Metrotown area, while the second week focused on the Lougheed and Brentwood areas..
Among the stolen items recovered were $200 worth of nuts, $350 in protein powder and $1,300 in cosmetics.
One person was located with 1,370 in unpaid items from various stores.
Of those arrested for theft during Project Barcode in Burnaby, 68 percent were found to have a history of violence, according to Burnaby RCMP.
In Vancouver, the project led to 258 arrests and $57,000 in recovered merchandise between Sept. 11 and 26.
Other agencies involved included Metro Vancouver Transit Police, Delta Police and RCMP in Langley, Richmond and Coquitlam.
“These types of crimes affect all communities, impacting people and businesses right across the Lower Mainland,” Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Laura Hirst said in a news release. “Project Barcode is a great example of agencies working together and taking a coordinated approach to make our communities safer.”
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