BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Security guards are no longer just in airports, concerts, or high-end, big-city retail stores, you can now find them in many businesses across Vermont.
The holidays are one of the busiest times of year for Homeport in Burlington’s downtown, which becomes flooded with shoppers.
“People are in good spirits,” said the store’s Francois Bouchette. But there is one thing that has recently brought the store down — theft. “When somebody walks out with a $900 pan set you notice and it hurts. And it hurts the business and it hurts the employees.” The shoplifting problem prompted Homeport to bring on their own security. “We are doing it now and it’s definitely helping,” Bouchette said.
And they are not alone in taking action against theft, according to the Burlington Business Association’s Kelly Devine. “ts up. it’s a big problem, ” she said.
Data from the Burlington Police shows November had the highest reported number of retail thefts this year. In most cases, no arrests were made.
Devine says more businesses are taking matters into their own hands. Some, like Homport, have visible security. Others have started locking up goods. She says drug use is at the root. “People are desperate. We know there are people on the street who tell them where to shoplift, tell them what to get. We watch people exchanging goods for drugs,” Devine said.
And it’s not just Burlington. We spotted more security staff at stores in South Burlington, Williston, and Rutland. Some of them are even armed. Stores tell us that the visible security presence does help but isn’t stopping all the trouble. “Most stores have told their employees not to interfere,” Devine said.
Store policy on theft varies from store to store, and that includes what hired security can do. “I don’t believe they can put hands on to a subject that is walking out the door without paying. We are different, we are law enforcement,” said Chittenden County Sheriff Dan Gamlin. He says his department contracted with Hannaford to help with loss prevention at several stores in the state. “It’s reduced it but it has not stopped it.”
Gamelin says that the cost of stolen goods and added security likely gets passed on to the consumer. He also agrees that it’s related to drugs. “It’s not for self-consumption. These people are turning around and selling this product to, I believe, organized crime,” he said. “There’s no consequences for their actions. So, if they are going to get away with it, they will continue to do it.”
Vermont’s new retail theft law approved this year increases fines and jail time for offenders who have been convicted of a crime in the last two years, but many argue that since cases linger in the court system for so long without a conviction, the law isn’t working as intended.