Shoplifting appears to be on the rise at grocery stores in Canada as a growing number of supermarkets report an increase in thefts of food and pharmacy products.

Industry experts say meat is the No. 1 stolen item followed by cheese and over-the-counter medicine.

Liquor stores are also reporting an increase in theft since the onset of the pandemic.

It91裸聊视频檚 unclear whether the uptick in shoplifting is due to escalating inflation and food insecurity, a growing resale market for stolen goods or other factors.

But experts say thefts have become more brazen in recent months and customers wearing face masks make it more difficult to identify people.

Several grocers across the country have expressed concern with surging shoplifting and aggressive behaviour, said Gary Sands with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers.

91裸聊视频淩etailers are seeing more thefts and physical confrontations,91裸聊视频� said Sands, senior vice-president of public policy for the industry group.

91裸聊视频淛ust in the last few weeks, grocers have been seeing a lot more meat theft. Meat prices have definitely risen.91裸聊视频�

Statistics Canada reported last month that meat prices were up nine per cent in December compared with a year earlier.

It91裸聊视频檚 hard to pin the trend down to a definitive cause, Sands said.

And getting hard numbers isn91裸聊视频檛 straightforward. Retailers often ask suspects to leave the store and not return rather than involve police, Sands said.

91裸聊视频淭hey might say, 91裸聊视频楪et out of here and don91裸聊视频檛 come back,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淧art of the issue is with masking, even if you91裸聊视频檝e got them on camera, it can be hard to recognize people.91裸聊视频�

The situation means there91裸聊视频檚 little official data on the issue.

Sgt. Steve Addison with the Vancouver Police Department said shoplifting is a vastly under-reported crime.

91裸聊视频淚n Vancouver we have seen a significant trend over the past couple years involving violent shoplifters,91裸聊视频� he said in an email. 91裸聊视频淭his includes people using weapons and physical force against store staff and security.91裸聊视频�

Addison added that the situation has less to do with the pandemic and more to do with people stealing products to sell in the illicit market.

Retail Council of Canada spokesperson Michelle Wasylyshen said theft impacts retailers in multiple ways with the biggest being the loss of inventory.

One of the few ways retailers can recover a portion of that loss is through increased prices, she said.

Retailers also hire security guards and turn to solutions such as locked showcases and other security measures to deter people from stealing.

But those measures come with added costs retailers recoup must usually through higher prices, Wasylyshen said.

Meanwhile, retailers say prosecution of shoplifting cases has dropped off considerably over the last two years, she said.

91裸聊视频淎s such, some retailers have changed their approach to focus on trying to deter theft from occurring, rather than making arrests,91裸聊视频� Wasylyshen said in an email.

91裸聊视频淲hen theft does occur, staff are advised not to engage with the perpetrator for their safety and that of others who may be nearby.91裸聊视频�

Canada91裸聊视频檚 Food Price Report released in December predicted soaring food prices and rising food insecurity could lead to increased rates of theft.

91裸聊视频淎 growing phenomenon related to increasing food insecurity caused by high inflation is theft from grocery stores, which is anticipated to intensify in 2022,91裸聊视频� the report said.

91裸聊视频淕rocers are anecdotally reporting an uptick in theft, particularly of items such as meat, cheese, over-the-counter medication and energy drinks. Unreported loss to theft could be as high as $3,000 to $4,000 each week in some Canadian grocery stores.91裸聊视频�

When asked about grocery store theft, Metro Inc. spokeswoman Marie-Claude Bacon said the company doesn91裸聊视频檛 comment on the topic.

Sobeys Inc. also declined to comment while Loblaw Companies Ltd. did not respond to a request for comment.

Several police departments contacted across Canada said shoplifting statistics were not readily available.

Const. Rob Carver with the Winnipeg Police Service said shoplifting statistics for the city over the last few years are complicated to draw conclusions from because of a rash of thefts from Manitoba Liquor Marts.

91裸聊视频淭his is further complicated because some Liquor Marts are located within or attached to grocery stores,91裸聊视频� he said in an email. 91裸聊视频淭his makes comparative data inaccurate.91裸聊视频�

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario said in a statement it has seen an increase in theft and attempted theft of liquor since the start of the pandemic.

The LCBO said it has increased the presence of security guards in many locations, while employees receive regular training on theft detection, deterrence and reporting.

91裸聊视频擝rett Bundale, The Canadian Press