Stolen carts cause problems

Photo: Contributed

Kamloops has a shopping cart problem.

RCMP say complaints have spiked from businesses reporting stolen shopping carts and people blocking customers from accessing their stores, forcing people to leave the sidewalk. 

This past spring, Kamloops RCMP surveyed businesses and learned that many are coping with customer inconvenience and financial loss from unrecovered carts. 

Homeless people often use the carts to carry their belongings, and police urge them to voluntarily return them. Bylaw staff have spread the word that the city will secure people's belongings for two weeks, "allowing time for alternative solutions," Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says.

Thirty-three carts were returned to businesses between June and September.

Shelkie says one individual had seven shopping carts seized during that period, despite repeated requests to co-operate.

Police don't lay any charges, but "continue to reason and work with all parties involved."

“We want to be as fair as possible to the people using these carts," said Shelkie. "That is why we have given as much notice as we could through our partner agencies and verbal warnings to persons possessing stolen property.

“However, at the end of the day, these shopping carts are stolen property that the stores want back. As well, there is a public safety issue when pedestrians have to walk on the roadway to avoid carts on the sidewalk.”