Some people may not consider it an issue worthy of police attention, but shopping cart theft is a crime that costs businesses hundreds of millions of dollars every year. According to the Retail Council of Canada the cost of a single stolen cart is estimated to be between $350.00 – $400.00, and some stores may have to replace up to 35 per cent of its fleet of carts annually.
The North Bay Police Service has heard from local businesses that the problem with stolen shopping carts is an ongoing issue. Some Canadian companies use a cart tracking system utilizing GPS technology to locate lost carts. However, containment systems such as wheel locks, coin locks, and electronic systems may only partially prevent theft. Some North Bay businesses have expressed that they have incurred expenses upwards of $30,000 to install anti theft devices for their carts.
“The theft of shopping carts continues to be a financial burden to our local businesses which increases costs to the average consumer and our community,” said Jeff Warner, Inspector of Operations at the North Bay Police Service. “The members of the North Bay Police Service have an obligation to our local business community to do our part to combat the ongoing issue of shopping cart thefts.”
To combat the problem, North Bay Police is working closely with local businesses to get information about shopping cart thefts and when they happen. On April 1st, officers conducted some targeted enforcement and charged two individuals with Possession of Stolen Property Obtained by Crime, issued one Provincial Offences Notice and returned 22 stolen carts to local businesses. The stolen merchandise had an approximate value of $7,000. Both accused were released with an Appearance Notice to appear in court at a future date.
Several factors contribute to the rise in cart thefts, including homeless individuals repurposing them for shelter or storage and instances of theft for scrap metal.
“Of course, we also recognize that many people suffering from homelessness are in possession of these stolen carts and our intention is not to further burden them considering the hardships they face,” Inspector Warner said. “Theft is theft, and they should not be in possession of stolen property. It is unacceptable for someone to steal the wagon from your backyard to transport their belongings, so we cannot accept the theft of a $350 piece of property from our local businesses. Our officers will use their discretion and address specific circumstances appropriately. There are many support services within our community that might be in a position to provide individuals with appropriate items to help them transport their belongings that do not come at a cost to our local businesses. This is something I expect we will continue to enforce throughout the summer months.”
Law enforcement services across the province have similar initiatives. A news release stated that the North Bay Police Service are acting with discretion and within their authority to return stolen property to its rightful owner and hold those who steal shopping carts accountable.
Those taking shopping carts can be charged with theft under $5,000 and/or possession of stolen property.
