Twenty-seven people were arrested for shoplifting in a six-week crackdown by West Shore RCMP late last year.
In one case, officers identified a suspect as a Chilliwack resident suspected in multiple previous thefts from the same retailer.
Chilliwack RCMP were alerted and made an arrest.
Thousands of dollars worth of goods have now been returned to West Shore businesses, police said.
The blitz by the West Shore RCMP Crime Reduction Unit ran from November until the end of December and generated 27 arrests.
Officers worked with loss-prevention staff from area stores during the crackdown.
Loss-prevention officers would identify individuals shoplifting within the store and relay the information to police officers covertly positioned outside, police said.
Once the shoplifting suspects left the store without paying for the goods, they were arrested by police.
“Partnering with loss-prevention officers was key in being able to identify shoplifting taking place within the store,” said Cpl. Danny Grieve of the Crime Reduction Unit. “We thank all stores that collaborated with police.”
Of the 27 people arrested, nine met the criteria for having their cases dealt with through restorative justice and were diverted from the criminal-justice system.
Thirteen of the remaining 18 are scheduled to appear in court on theft-related charges, while five have been banned from the stores where they were apprehended.
West Shore RCMP said reported cases of shoplifting under $5,000 in the area rose to 514 in 2023 from 400 the year before, a 29 per cent increase.
A similar crackdown by Victoria police from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5 resulted in 109 arrests and the recovery of over $29,000 in stolen goods.
Officers concentrated on violent and chronic shoplifters.
Four people were arrested multiple times during the eight-day effort, and 21 were found to have outstanding warrants.
