Why are workers at Pacific Centre reporting the same repeat offender?

Employees told CityNews they see the same person frequently and now use group chats to warn one another. VPD told CityNews the person has been charged with theft under $5,000 on multiple occasions.

What is the City of Vancouver doing about Vancouver retail theft?

The city launched a Retail Security Task Force in 2025 to coordinate responses with VPD, retailers, and business groups. Public performance metrics have not yet been released.

Why can trespass notices be hard to enforce in malls?

Security can ask a person to leave but cannot detain unless a crime is in progress. Police attendance and charge approval determine next steps.

Is Vancouver retail theft increasing even as overall crime falls?

Statistics Canada reported shoplifting rose 14 percent in 2024, while other crime indicators declined. Vancouver police data also showed a rise in reported shoplifting in 2024.

How should staff report incidents safely?

Call 911 if a theft is in progress or there is a threat to safety. Use the VPD non-emergency line or online reporting for delayed incidents.

Vancouver Retail Theft Repeat Offender Raises Questions About Bail Reform

Meera Gill
Oct 7
2 min read

Updated: Oct 21

Comic book style illustration showing a retail worker calmly locking a glass store door at Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver as a hooded man walks past outside, representing Vancouver retail theft and worker safety concerns.

At Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver, some retail staff say they’ve started locking their doors when a familiar man walks by. They describe seeing him frequently, often daily, taking merchandise and leaving before anyone can intervene.

Workers told CityNews that they’ve begun warning each other through group chats when he enters the mall. Many say they no longer confront him out of fear that he might become violent.

The Vancouver Police Department confirmed to CityNews that the same man has been charged with theft under $5,000 on multiple occasions. Pacific Centre’s owner, Cadillac Fairview, said it is working with the VPD’s Retail Crime Task Force to address safety concerns but did not confirm whether a formal trespass ban was issued.

Why Are Workers Still Seeing the Same Suspect?

Under Canada’s Criminal Code, theft under $5,000 is a hybrid offense that often results in probation or community release. Police can arrest someone, but prosecutors must prove intent and value, and sentences for minor theft are typically short.

Even when a ban is in place, enforcement depends on timing. Security guards cannot detain someone unless a crime is in progress, leaving staff waiting for police to arrive. That gap is what many employees say puts them at risk.

What the City’s Retail Crime Task Force Is Doing

The City of Vancouver created its Retail Security Task Force in April 2025 to address rising theft and repeat offenders. The task force brings together police, business groups, and social services to track cases and improve coordination.

As of October 2025, no public performance data has been released. Police say investigations are ongoing and that the program is part of a longer effort to reduce repeat offenses.

Why Retail Theft Keeps Rising in Vancouver

Statistics Canada reported that shoplifting increased 14 percent nationwide in 2024 and more than 60 percent over the past decade. In Vancouver, shoplifting rose 11.7 percent last year to nearly 7,700 reported incidents.

Police say the rise reflects a mix of chronic offenders and underreporting in previous years. For retail staff, it means seeing the same people come through again and again — a pattern they say feels more personal than ever.

How Workers Can Protect Themselves

Police advise employees not to intervene during a theft. If someone refuses to leave or becomes aggressive, call 911. For delayed incidents, use the VPD’s non-emergency line or online reporting form.

Employers can help by ensuring no one works alone during closing hours, improving camera coverage, and keeping detailed incident logs. Reporting every theft helps identify repeat offenders and supports faster police response.

What Comes Next

Retail workers say they want to feel safe again. Some hope that stronger enforcement of trespass orders and quicker follow-ups from the Retail Crime Task Force will make a difference.

Until then, many stores in downtown Vancouver will keep doing what they’ve learned to do — lock the doors when the familiar man walks by.