A pair of security guards are recovering from injuries after being assaulted during a robbery at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Osborne Village — the latest in a spate of retail crimes plaguing the city in recent months.
The incident has sparked questions about the efficacy of provincial legislation, with a Winnipeg security expert arguing private security officers do not have the required training, equipment or authority to protect themselves.
“Essentially, the guard service as an industry, as a whole, it has no teeth,” said Jeff Stone, president and CEO of Tacit Investigations & Security.
“The criminals know that guards have virtually no authority, no safety counter-measures, no self-defence. They have virtually nothing other than a uniform and a voice.”
Stone, who described morale levels in Manitoba’s private security sector as “atrocious,” said he was dismayed but not surprised to learn two men suffered injuries in another retail attack Saturday.
Three young people are facing charges in the incident that sent police to the store at 43 Osborne St. at about 8:30 p.m. for multiple reports of a commercial robbery in progress.
The Winnipeg Police Service said officers arrested three suspects at the scene after learning several people were inside the store damaging property. A fourth suspect fled on foot before police arrived.
Police said the suspects confronted the security guards outside the business, physically and verbally assaulted them before following them inside and trying unsuccessfully to grab cash from the register.
The suspects allegedly stole cosmetic products valued at about $800 and then caused approximately $5,000 worth of damage to merchandise, police said.
Two male security guards, ages 20 and 21, suffered minor injuries but did not require medical attention, the WPS said.
An 18-year-old man, an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl are facing robbery and mischief charges. They were released on undertakings.
Shoplifting incidents rose by 45.2 per cent last year in Winnipeg and 13.7 per cent over the five-year average, according to the WPS annual statistical report released Tuesday.
“Retailers won’t be surprised by the statistics reported today. Many are experiencing a rise in shoplifting within their stores,” said John Graham, director of government relations for the Retail Council of Canada’s prairie region.
“Whether you’re an employee within the store or playing a role as a third-party security person, you are increasingly dealing with difficult situations, (including people being) potentially violent or behaving more aggressively.”
Over the past seven months, police have detailed crimes in which security guards have been stabbed, sprayed with bear repellent and physically assaulted while working in businesses, public spaces and institutions.
“Incidents like this are occurring throughout the city,” WPS Const. Jason Michalyshen said.
“It’s incredibly unfortunate. The loss of property or damage is one thing, but public safety is the highest of priorities.”
Police have initiated crackdowns on retail crime and increased patrols in some areas, including Osborne Village. Provincial legislators have also stepped up, pushing through long-awaited amendments to the Police Services Act.
The legislation allowed government institutions like universities, hospitals and Winnipeg Transit to deploy institutional safety officers with the authority to detain unruly suspects, carry personal protective equipment and wield non-lethal weapons.
Those powers should be extended to private security officers who meet the same provincial qualifications — particularly those working in retail environments, public spaces or at social services with a history of high-risk incidents, Stone said.
Graham agreed, saying the retail council supports “the concept of a more highly-trained security professional who has more authority.”
“With the proper training, we think there is a real opportunity to provide that more experienced security person in some retail environments,” he said.
He acknowledged some instances of shoplifting are caused by financial desperation or underlying issues such as addiction, homelessness and mental illness.
“Arresting our way out of those problems isn’t productive but at the same time, for those more violent, more prolific criminals who commonly use threats of violence … we are looking for greater commitment to prosecution, sentencing and addressing issues with bail and reoffending.”
Police are asking anyone with information or video about the Osborne incident to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.
tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca
Tyler Searle
Reporter
Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press‘s city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic’s creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler.
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