THUNDER BAY -- Liquor theft at the Cumberland Street LCBO has become so common its staff has stopped notifying police.
Customer Jessica Dykes filed a formal complaint after she was caught between the LCBO's doors on Sunday as several men ran out with booze they'd stolen. She said she was shocked staff was so unphased the police weren't even called.
"They've given up because this happens every day. That's horrifying to me," Dykes said.
"The most horrifying part was just the complacency and burnout that was being displayed by the employees. Although they were being rude to me, I empathize with their position but if we don't notify authorities, that's not the way to address this."
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one store employee said between four and seven males have been stealing 1.75 L bottles of Wiser's Special Blend from the liquor outlet nearly every day, sometimes multiple times per day.
Although G4S Security takes some shifts at the Cumberland LCBO, she said the all-female staff needs reliably-available security.
"The amount of product walking out the door would pay for the security to protect the product and protect the staff," she said.
"I don't want to get killed over $20 because someone is too cheap to pay."
Ontario Public Sector Employees Union spokesman Greg Hamara said LCBO staff is trained not to challenge shoplifters and workers haven't raised the issue with the union.
"I followed up with our OPSEU staff people in Thunder Bay. This issue has not come to their attention in Thunder Bay," he said.
"To be quite honest, we haven't heard anything from our members either in Thunder Bay or elsewhere in the province that this has become so endemic."
An LCBO spokeswoman said the Crown Corporation contacted Thunder Bay Police about the incident following Dykes' complaint on Monday. It reviews security matters at its outlets on a case-by-case basis.
"When incidents are reported, the LCBO uses this information to ascertain the need for additional security measures, including contract security guards," LCBO media relations coordinator Christine Bujold said in a written response.
"I can assure you that security measures are adjusted in response to reported incidents at stores and this location is no different."
