BURST
Shoppers are asked to keep their eyes peeled in the meat section of grocery stores as Richmond RCMP investigate a recent spike in meat thefts.
Richmond Mounties said it has received 39 reports of meat being stolen from stores between December and March.
While some thefts could be crimes of opportunity, the pattern and volume could indicate organized activity, said police, with the stolen products getting resold.
“Whether these thefts are opportunistic or part of a more co-ordinated effort, we are devoting resources to disrupting this crime trend,” Richmond RCMP spokesman Const. Frank Bryson said in a statement.
Police urge the public not to buy meat from unverified or informal sources because stolen meat may not have been stored or handled safely.
Anyone who spots suspicious behaviour in the meat aisle — such as people who appear to concealing products, loading unusually large quantities of meat into personal bags, or acting in a way that’s out of place — is asked to alert store staff and police.