Stereo Warehouse and Sisters Sleep Gallery (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

Crime fatigue

‘What is the point of wasting your time?’; Downtown Kamloops business suffering from crime-reporting fatigue

Mar 4, 2026 | 4:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP’s year-end statistics for 2025 showed a decrease of 27 per cent for break-and-enters to businesses. On the flip side, there was a 13 per cent rise in shoplifting, with the Mounties believing both stats could be under-reported in the community.

“Over the last quarter, we have advocated to ask for more reports with respect to that because there is an insurmountable number of offences that we believe was under-reported just because of the amount of the theft or the consequence with respect to that,” said RCMP Supt. Jeff Pelley.

Under-reporting is not just anecdotal, with Sisters Sleep Gallery along West Victoria Street routinely not forwarding petty crime issues to the RCMP.

“There is no end to it, so what is the point of wasting your time?” Owner Nina Sandhu told CFJC News. “Have you reported it to your insurance, or have you done this, or done this? So yes, we don’t report a lot of things because we know it’s not going anywhere. Instead of wasting our time, what is the solution? We don’t have solutions, that is the sad part.”

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Sandhu said conditions in the West Victoria corridor are getting worse, calling on all three levels of government to work together on a solution to homelessness, addiction and mental health.

“Along with the housing, besides feeding them, you need to look after their other needs that they have. That is where the problem is,” said Sandhu. “Nobody is looking at that. What is the issue? What are the problems? Why are they not provided mental help that they need? If they were provided that, they would probably be moving on to make their lives better.”

Pelley stated addressing theft from businesses and under-reporting is one of the detachment’s crime reduction strategies for 2026.

“Their cumulative impact is quite significant, in my view, and repeated daily, these offenses put a strain on our businesses as well as create concern among residents and contribute to conditions where more serious crimes can emerge,” said Pelley. “That is where we are looking at the strategies within the corridors.”