PRINCE GEORGE, BC: The Prince George RCMP’s Downtown Safety Unit (DSU) worked with Loss Prevention Officers from the London Drugs in Parkwood Mall to target repeat shoplifters during two separate, two-day periods…

On April 29 and 30, and May 17 and 18, three members from the Downtown Safety Unit and one frontline member ran a “Boost and Bust” project similar to the one that ran during March at Pine Centre Mall.

Police arrested 19 people for Theft Under $5000; of those 19 people, police found that four were breaching their court ordered conditions not to be at London Drugs, and one individual was arrested during both the April and the May projects. The investigators are familiar with all of the people that they dealt with.

Police released all the offenders with future court dates in August and September.

“Releasing the offenders with future court dates, instead of holding them for court, is in accordance with provisions in the Criminal Code. Unless a person presents a significant public safety threat, release at the earliest reasonable opportunity on the least onerous grounds is favoured,” states Cst. Jennifer Cooper of the Prince George RCMP.

The Downtown Safety Unit looks forward to future partnerships like this with other businesses in Prince George.

Written and released by Prince George RCMP.