Charlottetown retailers say spike in thefts putting pressure on small businesses

A number of business owners in Charlottetown say they're experiencing an unprecedented level of theft.

"This summer season was the worst that we've ever experienced," said Kimberly McIntyre, who owns Kuriosities Jewelry and Crow's Nest on Victoria Row in Charlottetown.

She said this summer she and her staff were catching shoplifters on a weekly basis — sometimes multiple times per week. Just a few years ago, theft would only happen a handful of times in her stores, she said.

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But now, it's become a regular occurrence and is coming at the cost of her time, McIntyre said. Between looking at security camera footage and filing a police report, one incident can take up her whole day, she said.

"Everything is being stolen. If it's not nailed down, behind glass it's being stolen," she said. "This can range from small items like stickers and pins to jewlery."

Because much of her merchandise is handmade, there is a lot of labour that goes into creating each piece, and when something is stolen, that time goes with it, she said.

"It's hours of work that's just taken from you," she said. "When you're making your inventory, you don't get to just order in more hours of your time."

McIntyre isn't the only one who's noticed a spike in thefts recently.

According to Charlottetown Police Services, incidents of shoplifting this summer more than doubled compared to last summer, with 44 cases reported between July and September of 2022 and 102 cases reported over the same months this year.

Julia Campbell, owner of Jems Boutique and the Anne of Green Gables Store in downtown Charlottetown, said she's also felt the increase in thefts.

She said her financial losses from shoplifting have doubled in the last couple years. This summer alone, she said she's lost up to $4,000 in merchandise at her stores.

"You have to think, when does the shopper feel unsafe? At what point do staff feel unsafe? I'm not saying that we're there right now, but for this first time ever, those thoughts have actually crossed my mind," Campbell said.

She's also noticing a lot of repeat shoplifters, who have become more difficult to manage, she said.