Three suspects were arrested for an alleged shoplifting incident last week in Richmond.
Richmond RCMP officers responded to a call of suspects shoplifting at a business on No. 3 Road, between Saba and Cook roads, shortly before 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
When officers arrived, they saw three men running on foot with store security following after them, according to Cpl. Adriana O'Malley, media liaison officer at Richmond RCMP.
RCMP eventually found and arrested the three suspects.
The investigation remains active and ongoing with charges pending.
Shoplifting up by 27% in 2024
According to the Richmond RCMP, shoplifting was up by 27 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023.
There were a total of 1,613 incidents reported to police in 2024, compared to 1,273 in 2023.
As for other crimes, fraud incidents were up by 11 per cent in 2024 and a total of 277 vehicles were stolen, an increase of nine per cent over 2023.
Last week, in a report about the arrest of a break-in suspect at a residence in the 6400 block of Livingstone Place, RCMP said there has been been an increase in residential break-ins in the area around Granville Avenue and No. 2 Road.
Break-ins across Richmond, however, seem to be on the decline. In 2024, residential break-ins were down 11 per cent, and business break-ins, as reported to police, were down 23 per cent.
Overall reports of violent crime were up by five per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year. In this category, common assaults and sexual assaults were up, but robberies and serious assaults were down. In total, there were 1,922 violent crimes reported to Richmond RCMP in 2024.
Richmond RCMP released their 2024 crime statistics in a community safety report going to Richmond city council.
- with files from Maria Rantanen
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