HomeBusinessNS News: Shops see an increase in thefts Achi-News

NS News: Shops see an increase in thefts Achi-News

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Achi news desk-

Downtown Halifax is a great retail location with heavy foot traffic, but in recent years businesses have been significantly affected by increased thefts.

“We’ve seen dramatic progress,” said Sue Uteck, executive director of the Spring Garden Area Business Association. “The robbery is more brazen. I think it’s a reflection of the social services in the landscape out here.”

Uteck said Halifax Regional Police have provided crime statistics for the Halifax area, which suggest a year-over-year increase in robberies.

Uteck believes the number is much higher.

“We have a serious lack of police presence in the Spring Garden area. Many businesses don’t bother to report theft. We have had two police meetings in the town hall in the last two years and that is the main complaint from businesses is that they call to report something and either there is no follow up or the follow up is a little later, ” he said.

Nova Scotia-based Jennifer’s co-owner Kurt Bulger said the store has been in downtown Halifax for more than 40 years and has always had to battle shoplifting. However, it has been particularly bad in the last two years.

“It’s off the charts for us. We usually lower than less than half of our sales are accounted for theft. Last year we went up two and a half, which for us is a huge spike,” he said.

The store doesn’t carry essentials or luxury brands, yet Bulger said that hasn’t stopped shoplifters from targeting him. He is frustrated with the lack of police presence in the area.

“It doesn’t exist at a time when we have more people on the street and a massive increase in population,” he said.

Bulger is one of the shop owners in the city area who no longer bothers to report thefts to the police.

“They’re really not doing anything to help us with it. In the 40 years we have been here, we have only been able to prosecute two cases,” he said.

He has had to hire extra staff to target thieves.

“Labour costs are certainly going up, but the amount of theft we suffered was nowhere near what it would cost [to] hire two people,” he said.

Downtown Dartmouth has also seen an increase in robberies; however, it’s not that bad.

“We have an increased police presence here and we are working with Halifax Regional Municipality [where] we hired a new street navigator,” said Tim Rissesco, chief executive officer of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission.

Rissesco said businesses in Dartmouth see up to three robberies a month.

“There are always concerns about this. When you see this happening the concern is whether it will increase,” he said.

CTV News contacted Halifax Regional Police asking if it will increase its numbers downtown, but was told it would not be able to meet today’s deadline for comment.


For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.

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