canada Shoplifting in Canada | What does it say about the economy? - video Dailymotion

canada Shoplifting in Canada | What does it say about the economy?

Transcript

00:00The crime of shoplifting appears to be spiraling out of control in Canada.

00:05Retailers are facing losses in the billions, with businesses considering closing down for

00:09good.

00:10SCTV's Paul Hollingsworth explains Nova Scotia has struggled the most with the surge.

00:16The owner of this Halifax clothing store is not surprised shoplifting is on the rise in

00:22Nova Scotia, up 21 percent in one year.

00:26I don't doubt it.

00:27I mean, I think in retail, that's a problem, always has been for the 52 years we've been

00:32open.

00:33Based on population per 1,000 people, Nova Scotia has the highest rate of shoplifting

00:38out of all 10 Canadian provinces.

00:41Yukon has a higher rate, but with a much smaller population.

00:45Ross McNeil and his staff maintain a watchful eye for thieves on a daily basis.

00:51They'll come in and try to grab something, go out the door.

00:54Retail analyst Bruce Winder says in tough economic times, people sometimes grow desperate,

01:00and shoplifting often increases.

01:02Everything from homeless rates to unemployment rate, you'd have to look at average income.

01:08The problem has become so serious that the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation has now pulled

01:13some products from the shelves, placing them in secure areas as a deterrent for would-be

01:20thieves.

01:21If a store believes that a product is being taken more frequently than others, then they

01:28may make the choice to put it behind the shelf.

01:32Theft has caused financial wreckage within the retail industry.

01:37If you look in the United States, a number of big chains have actually closed stores.

01:42Some store owners in Nova Scotia likely won't survive if shoplifting continues its upward

01:48trend.

01:50Paul Hullingsworth, CTV News, Halifax.