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Burnaby police, mall cops nail 16 shoplifters in Metrotown blitz

Thousands of dollars in merchandise recovered in two-day blitz at shops in Metrotown area
Shoplifting
Burnaby RCMP, Transit Police and loss-prevention officers targeted shoplifters in an enforcement blitz earlier this month.

Metrotown merchants got some reinforcements in their battle against shoplifters this month.

For two days, on Nov. 4 and 5, Burnaby RCMP and Transit Police officers joined loss prevention officers in a blitz targeting theft from stores in the area.

In all, 16 shoplifters were charged with theft and more than $3,000 worth of property was recovered.

Police also caught six people wanted on eight outstanding warrants – and located a missing 85-year-old woman.

It was the second so-called Boost and Bust enforcement led by Burnaby RCMP this year.

Combined with an earlier four-day blitz in April, Boost and Bust initiatives this year have resulted in a total of 43 offenders facing new charges, 11 outstanding warrants being executed and more than $7,800 worth of property being recovered.

“This two-day enforcement in the Metrotown area not only thwarted would-be thieves, but the team was also able to arrest eight people on outstanding warrants from throughout the Lower Mainland," Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Mike Kalanj said in a news release. "It was another win for community safety and law enforcement partnerships."

Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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