SASKATOON — Prolific shoplifters have become more common and violent, says the Saskatoon Police Service, and recently undertook a four-day initiative to make itself more visible.
The recent initiative was conducted by Saskatoon Police Service Community Mobilization Unit (CMU), with the assistance of Alternative Response Officers (ARO) around multiple Saskatoon shopping areas. With the increase in violence among shoplifters, who often conceal or produce weapons during theft, says SPS, the high-visibility patrols were aimed at proactively deterring and addressing crime through community engagement, education and partnerships.
Over the course of four days, CMU and ARO’s had an overt police presence in the 200 block of 1st Avenue South, the 300 and 400 blocks of Confederation Drive, 8th Street East, and the 2400 block of 22nd Street. The purpose of such an initiative is to provide safer public spaces in the City of Saskatoon by providing a visible police presence, enforcing the Criminal Code, Traffic Safety Act, bylaws and the Safe Public Spaces Act, says the SPS.
Police encourage community members to continue reporting crime and suspicious activity in retail spaces to police by calling 306-975-8300 or, in an emergency, 911.
