Kamloops RCMP Superintendent Jeff Pelley is sounding the alarm over a sharp and sustained rise in shoplifting across the city—even as overall property crime continues to decline.
Speaking Thursday at the city’s Safety and Security Committee meeting, Supt. Pelley revealed early data from the RCMP’s second-quarter 2025 report, showing a 17% increase in shoplifting this spring compared to the same period last year. It follows a 2% rise in the first quarter, marking a nearly 20% jump halfway through the year.
“Shoplifting continues to be one of our top calls for service in Kamloops’ business corridors,” said Pelley. “It’s often lower-risk, but the cumulative impact on businesses is significant.”
While theft of motor vehicles is down 34%, break-and-enters to businesses are down 29%, and residential break-ins dropped 5%, Pelley said shoplifting is bucking the trend—and becoming a major pressure point for police and businesses alike.
Business Owners Frustrated, Some Stop Reporting
Pelley acknowledged during the meeting that some retailers have stopped reporting incidents altogether, citing frustration over repeat offenders, lack of charges, or minimal consequences.
“Without those reports, it’s very difficult for us to respond or build enforcement strategies,” Pelley told councillors. “We rely on that data to identify patterns and target repeat offenders.”
The lack of reporting may be masking the true extent of the problem. In 2021, Kamloops police recorded 737 shoplifting files. By 2024, that number had doubled to 1,477. With the current trend, 2025 could see a new high.
Repeat Offenders and Discretion at Play
Pelley said RCMP are seeing a mix of prolific offenders and low-risk individuals, often connected to mental health or substance use issues. Police sometimes use “operational discretion,” choosing not to pursue charges in every case—particularly if the retailer isn’t willing to proceed.
“There’s a balancing act between enforcement and understanding the root causes,” he said.
Some of the offenders are known to police and already facing multiple conditions or charges. In recent weeks, RCMP arrested eight high-risk offenders, seizing four firearms and drugs in what Pelley called a “strategic summer enforcement push” between July 10 and 19. Six of those individuals remain in custody.
RCMP Presence to Increase in Hot Spots
To combat the uptick in shoplifting and other low-level crime, Pelley said police are increasing foot and bike patrols in business corridors and working closely with Community Services Officers. A data-driven “CompStat” model is being used to identify and prioritize crime hot spots.
“This is about being proactive,” Pelley said, noting some success in areas like Valleyview and Victoria Street West, which saw reductions in calls for service.
Council Weighs Broader Solutions
The surge in shoplifting reignited calls among councillors for deeper systemic changes—particularly a community court model to address repeat low-level offenders through a blend of accountability and social supports.
“This isn’t just about crime—it’s about addiction, mental health, and economic impacts,” said Councillor Katie Neustaeter. “What we’re doing now feels like a Band-Aid. We need long-term tools.”
City staff said the province has not outright rejected the community court concept, but wants to see the “situation table”—a collaborative social intervention model—successfully implemented first. That initiative is set to launch in Q4 of 2025.
Neustaeter, along with Councillor Singh Sarai, urged continued advocacy: “Until the province gives us a firm no, we keep pushing.”
Next Steps: Local Engagement with Business Corridors
Council unanimously passed a motion Thursday to organize direct engagement with businesses along the Lee Road to McKenzie Road stretch of the Tranquille corridor—one of the city’s most impacted areas.
Pelley confirmed that some businesses in that area have already noticed improvement, citing a recent example where break-ins have “significantly dropped” due to increased police presence and community collaboration.
But the committee acknowledged more needs to be done to tackle the visible disorder that is deterring customers and harming small business owners.
National Trend, Local Urgency
Kamloops isn’t alone. National figures from Statistics Canada show shoplifting is rising across the country, even as overall crime levels fall. But with Kamloops trending higher than the national average, the local stakes feel more urgent.
“Shoplifting may not be violent, but it’s not victimless,” said Neustaeter. “When families don’t feel safe dining downtown, when shelves are empty or businesses can’t afford security, that’s a crisis too.”
The full Q2 2025 RCMP report is expected to be presented to Kamloops city council next month, offering a more detailed breakdown of crime statistics, enforcement outcomes, and further plans for high-risk areas.
