Stakeouts and stings. Takedowns of organized theft rings. And in LCBO after LCBO across Toronto, a sudden and robust police presence right there on the shop floor, standing guard over the people’s liquor.A security blitz is underway to tame an epidemic of broad-daylight theft from the Ontario-owned liquor retailer first reported by the Star in December.The multi-faceted crackdown began two weeks ago with the LCBO itself calling in the cavalry, hiring more paid-duty Toronto police officers at its hardest-hit and highest-traffic locations throughout the city.LCBO officials confirmed late Friday an increase in “security personnel at select locations,” but offered no comment on the scale of the unannounced blitz, which the Star was able to confirm earlier through multiple police sources and front-line LCBO workers.“We’re seeing uniformed officers here all day, from open till close, and it’s a huge relief to staff. They’re setting up stings in some stores. The LCBO is paying a fortune — we don’t know how long it will last, but the customers sure are happy,” one LCBO source told the Star.Coinciding with the LCBO’s efforts, several Toronto police districts have stepped up enforcement, in response to public outrage over brazen looting of dufflebag-loads of premium liquors.Read more: LCBO thefts have spiralled and now make up nearly half of all shoplifting from Toronto’s most-hit retailersLeaked LCBO memo tells staff it is ramping up ‘theft protection tactics’‘Discouraging. Dumbfounded. A sad reality.’ Star story on LCBO thefts prompts readers to share their eyewitness accountsWhile the focus is on catching thieves, three police sources told the Star their gaze is expanding to include bars and restaurants they believe are complicit in buying and reselling the stolen liquor to unsuspecting patrons.While liquor theft is largely thought of as petty crime, the scale of the increas ...
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