It took just six hours over two evenings for police to recover $7,500 in stolen merchandise at Burnaby's Metrotown mall earlier this month.
Burnaby RCMP teamed up with Metropolis at Metrotown security on June 6 and 7 to tackle "chronic shoplifting," according to a police news release Monday.
Police arrested six shoplifters, including a 38-year-old Vancouver man who walked off with more than $2,600 worth of high-end athletic clothing.
"The suspect was found to be in possession of the merchandise still on the hangers," stated the release.
Police say they also caught two prolific offenders found in breach of their release orders.
One 41-year-old Burnaby man under conditions not to attend specific retail businesses was arrested and searched and found to have $850 worth of suspected stolen merchandise on him – a including a belt and bottles of perfume from the two stores he is banned from.
"This individual has an extensive history of negative police contacts throughout the Lower Mainland, including 113 theft files, 26 breach of probation files and four robbery files," the release said.
Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj said police analysts have helped officers narrow down when and where spikes in retail theft happen in Burnaby.
"This information allowed our officers to focus on the right time and place to assist our community partners," Kalanj said in the release. "We will continue to work with our partners to enhance public safety and combat the negative impacts of retail theft in our community."
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