Richmond RCMP says it arrested 21 people and recovered $3,100 worth of stolen items from YVR following retail crime operations conducted in September.
The Story
Richmond RCMP says it arrested 21 people and recovered more than $5,675 worth of merchandise during several operations targeting retail theft in September.
The force said it carried out two Boost and Bust operations on Sept. 11 and 18 as part of the Retail Council of Canada’s National Retail Crime Task Force Fall 2026 National Blitz. Additional operations on Sept. 18 and Sept. 21 took place at YVR.
According to Richmond RCMP, the YVR operations resulted in three arrests and the recovery of $3,100 worth of stolen items. Collectively, the operations recovered more than $5,675 worth of goods, including beauty products and groceries.
Richmond RCMP said it is recommending theft charges under $5,000 against 13 individuals. The force also said it is recommending one count of assault after a suspect allegedly assaulted a loss-of-prevention officer, and one charge for failing to comply with a release order.
The police said restorative justice will be recommended for two adults, while two youths arrested during the operations would be recommended for extrajudicial measures. Three individuals were released without charge.
All people arrested during the operations were offered referrals to social services, and Richmond RCMP said the work was supported by partnerships with the Organized Retail Crime Association of BC (ORCA-BC) and funding through the Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program (C-STEP).
Insp. Baz Kassam, Richmond RCMP’s operations officer, said the agency is able to identify repeat offenders and reduce retail crime through intelligence-led enforcement and collaboration, with the goal of improving safety for businesses, employees and shoppers.
Richmond RCMP said retail theft remains a priority, pointing to four previous Boost and Bust operations in 2026, including a project in July that worked with ORCA-BC.
The force encouraged people who have witnessed a theft or have information about retail crime to report it to RCMP.
← More stories