Over five days, 34 people were arrested as part of the second round of Operation Barcode by the Kelowna RCMP.
The Community Safety Unit (CSU) worked with Loss Prevention Officers (LPOs) from several Kelowna retailers over multiple days.
According to Cpl. Michael Gauthier, plainclothes officers helped the LPOs by intervening and protecting them from any violent behaviour that sometimes took place during shoplifting incidents.
From May 7 to 11, officers recovered more than $6,000 in merchandise, handed out seven store bands, and six restorative justice referrals and successfully had 21 criminal charges laid.
“Shoplifting remains one of our Crime Severity Index drivers and we will continue these types of initiatives until these figures change and we see more palatable numbers as a community.” Said Sgt. Scott Powrie of the Community Safety Unit.
This is the second time the RCMP conducted Operation Barcode, last year the program took place over a week.
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