It took just two hours for police to catch four shoplifters and recover $5,400 in stolen Lululemon merchandise during an anti-shoplifting blitz at the Metrotown mall earlier this month.
Officers were at the mall on Aug. 3 looking for prolific shoplifters who target the store at around closing time, according to Burnaby RCMP.
"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," Cpl. Sean McInnes said in a news release Thursday.
During the Aug. 3 enforcement, two men allegedly walked away from the Lululemon store after grabbing two racks of clothing worth about $3,500.
In another instance, a woman allegedly walked out of the store with more than $1,300 in stolen clothing.
"We continue to address concerns we hear from our retail community," McInnes said. "This type of enforcement isn't just about recovering stolen goods; it's also about ensuring the safety of retail workers and the public."
Thefts at Lululemon made headlines last week, when Metro Vancouver Transit Police announced officers had recovered $97,468 in stolen merchandise at a Burnaby residence during an investigation into an alleged "large scale, organized theft operation" targeting Lululemon stores across the Lower Mainland.
Transit police said the initial arrest in the case came after officers were alerted to the suspect's "alleged shoplifting routine, including his dependence on using SkyTrain as his getaway vehicle."
The investigation into the alleged theft ring is ongoing, according to transit police.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on X/Twitter @CorNaylor
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