Crime behind upcoming closure of four Winnipeg 7-Elevens

Article content

Winnipeg, known as the Slurpee Capital of the World, is set to lose four more 7-Eleven locations. The stores at 815 Ellice Ave., 1007 McPhillips St., 1103 Pembina Hwy, and 665 McPhillips St., are slated for closure. This comes after the company previously informed the Winnipeg City Council that crime was pushing them toward shutting down stores.

Article content

City Councillor Ross Eadie (Mynarski) recently met with 7-Eleven officials about the financial losses linked to theft, which are driving these closures. The company has been struggling with persistent crime, and Eadie expressed frustration, noting that thieves are stealing more than small items. He stressed that the closure of these stores would leave neighbourhoods without access to essential goods like milk and bread.

Eadie also pointed out the increasing violence against clerks and customers. Some employees have been ambushed after work, and the company faces similar problems in other Canadian cities. A disturbing trend has emerged where stolen goods are being resold to unscrupulous retailers in Winnipeg at a fraction of their value.

Article content

Article content

According to 7-Eleven’s recent loss report, the North End stores experienced $1.4 million in losses, with 1,098 reported theft incidents in 2023 alone. The situation worsened in early 2024, with 937 incidents reported in just the first quarter. This problem has forced 7-Eleven to close three stores in Winnipeg since 2019, including the William Avenue location.

Eadie proposed that addressing these issues requires a collective effort, urging people to stop buying stolen goods and calling for a neighbourhood revitalization agreement to support troubled areas.

The increase in retail crime is not unique to Winnipeg. Loren Remillard, CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, echoed this, saying theft has become a North American challenge. He emphasized that businesses need community recognition that theft is not victimless and there must be consequences for criminal activity.

Article content

Manitoba’s Minister of Justice, Matt Wiebe, said the province is working with police and retailers to tackle the crime problem. A new ankle monitoring program will provide 24-hour surveillance for criminal justice system individuals. Wiebe believes building relationships between police, businesses, and the community will help address these issues.

Acting Winnipeg Police Chief Art Stannard highlighted that 20% of arrests involve people on bail, probation, or parole, and 80% of arrests by the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit involve those on some form of release. The police are committed to working with retailers through enforcement, education, and community partnerships to combat the problem.

Article content