(From L to R) James Burns, CEO of Alcanna Ltd., Minister Doug Schweitzer, MLA Brad Rutherford, and Cst. Robyn Wilson, Edmonton Police Service, announced action to fight robberies and thefts targeting liquor stores. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Shaun Penner

Combatting Crime

Province announces working group to combat rise in liquor store thefts

Jan 21, 2020 | 9:15 AM

The Alberta Government has established a working group to combat what they are a calling a growing public safety threat, posed by a rapid rise in robberies and thefts at liquor stores.

The working group was announced Monday in Edmonton by Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer, who named Leduc-Beaumont MLA Brad Rutherford as the chair of the group. The group’s main task will be to look into the recent spike crimes targeting liquor stores in the province and find ways to deter it.

“Criminals and gangs are preying on hard-working, law-abiding Albertans and business owners,” said Schweitzer, in a release. “Our government will work with our partners in law enforcement and in the industry to deter liquor store thefts through better prevention and ensuring appropriate consequences for the perpetrators.”

Edmonton has been hit particularly hard with crime targeting liquor stores and their employees. The Edmonton Police Service says they responded to over 9,500 liquor store thefts in 2019, an average of 26 per day. That’s nearly triple the total from 2018, which sat at 3,273 for 2018.

The provincial government says there is evidence to suggest gangs and organized crime are fueling the rise in liquor store thefts. They say many of these crimes appear to be co-ordinated events.

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Rutherford, who was an officer with EPS for 10 years, will chair the group of eight which represent law enforcement, liquor retailers, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis and the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service.

President of the Alberta Liquor Store Association Ivonne Martinez is one of those members, who says the announcement of this working group is a positive step towards finding a solution.

“We are pleased to see the government taking action on the issue of liquor store crime after hearing the concerns brought forth by industry. This problem affects big and small business owners in urban and rural communities and poses a significant threat to the safety of liquor store employees. On behalf of liquor store owners across Alberta, we look forward to finding meaningful solutions.”

One solution that is being piloted by Alcanna Ltd., who owns Liquor Depot, Ace Liquor, Wine and Beyond and Nova Cannabis, is an I.D. scanner at an Ace Liquor store in northeast Edmonton. Customers will be required to scan a valid form of government I.D. in order to gain access to the store.

The working group will also be looking into other ways to fight the rise in crime, including enforcement strategies, legal measures and deterrence measures.