NANAIMO — Rising rates of theft, vandalism and violence at local stores is putting additional stress on an already fragile retail market.
Rumours regarding the pending closure of at least one London Drugs store in Nanaimo began swirling mid-October and while the company’s president said there’s zero truth to them, it is “something we have to consider if things don’t change.”
Clint Mahlman told NanaimoNewsNOW repeat offenders in the City are targeting London Drugs and other stores with growing frequency, with the downtown location at Port Place Shopping Centre of particular concern.
“One of the things that frustrates certainly our employees is they often see the same person that’s committed a violent act or theft from us, or vandalism, they may have been caught by the RCMP earlier in the day and they’re back into the store later that day seemingly with no consequence.”
In October of this year alone, Mahlman said 14 arrests have been made at the Port Place location for theft.
He added combined at both Port Place and Nanaimo North Town Centre since March 2023, 13 violent incidents have also occurred, involving weapons, physical assault, verbal abuse and threatening behaviour.
“That gives you a sense of why we’re concerned that while we provide a safe place for our customers, we hear every day in Nanaimo that they feel really worried about what’s happening on their streets.”
Mahlman said their loss prevention officers and other staff are trained continuously on different techniques to diffuse these incidents.
There’s also been a “dramatic increase” in security on site as a result.
He also said London Drugs focuses on non-violent encounters and look to collect evidence through HD security cameras, rather than catch someone in the act.
Nanaimo RCMP have been “very supportive” in taking the collected evidence and recommending charges against thieves after the fact.
In statements to NanaimoNewsNOW, business advocates outlined their concerns regarding the stance taken by London Drugs.
Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce president Corry Gervais stated London Drugs is an integral part of the fabric of downtown.
“Their presence adds to the vitality and security of our area. If they left, it would be devastating to the economic ecosystem of Nanaimo,” Gervais wrote.
Downtown Nanaimo Business Association executive director Roberta Bowman expressed the importance London Drugs has on the economic scope of downtown: “We need to do everything we possibly can to ensure London Drugs in Port Place Mall continues to thrive,” Bowman stated.
Repeated acts of vandalism and theft are becoming increasingly common all over Nanaimo’s downtown, including multiple break-ins to Red Shelf Decor on Commercial St. in one night in January, and a string of smashed front windows at multiple downtown businesses in April.
Some stores are thinking outside of the box in order to discourage loitering and social disorder, including NYLA Fresh Threads in downtown Nanaimo, which began playing the children’s song “Baby Shark” from a speaker overnight.
One of multiple violent incidents at the downtown Nanaimo London Drugs location involved a man who attempted to disarm and threatened to kill a Nanaimo Mountie nearly two years ago following an alleged shoplifting incident at the retailer.
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