The power of one message, many voices.
Our Approach
Government has the knowledge, the financial and people resources, legislative authority, and responsibility to fix the issues that have resulted in the current levels of crime and violence and fear.
SOS will research the costs of these issues to the public, to government and to business and will publicize the results, along with statistical evidence as to whether government actions are having the desired effect.
Our Message
“SOS” is an internationally recognized signal of distress and a cry for help. Our coalition of concerned citizen groups and business from throughout B.C. is dedicated to delivering that message. The issues are well known and while words matter, now is the time for solutions.
Escalating crime and violence are resulting in people being injured, families being afraid of neighbourhoods, employees in fear of going to work, businesses being forced to close, family supporting jobs lost and, in some cases, downtowns becoming ghost towns.
The skyrocketing security and theft costs for business result in the viability of businesses being threatened, businesses closing and family supporting jobs lost but also an estimated $500 per year increase in the cost of living for the average BC family.
Too often, a “Whack A Mole” approach is adopted with attention and resources being spent on addressing individual aspects of the issues (decriminalization; police resources; safe supply; homelessness; mental health services; judicial reform, etc.) when a comprehensive, cross government jurisdiction approach is required.
There is a close relationship between many of the issues. Much of the retail crime today is conducted by individuals attempting to support illicit drug habits but being “managed” by organized crime groups. Violence on the street and in business locales is often linked to mental health issues and illicit drug addictions. Lack of police, mental health, drug addiction, prosecutorial and judicial resources all have a role in the solution.
Theft, vandalism, and violent crimes are often committed by the same person over and over again. With a perceived lack of appropriate deterrent from our justice system criminals feel free to repeat the crimes many times without serious consequence.
It is time for government to accept and respond to their responsibilities.
We call on government to implement innovative, aggressive and comprehensive solutions now.
SOS will establish a set of benchmarks that are credible and by which success or lack thereof in responding to the issues can be measured.
SOS and its supporters stand ready to collaborate in any meaningful action and while words matter, success will be measured on results.
Mayors Rally, BC Legislature, September 24, 2025 “SOS” is an internationally recognized signal of distress and a cry for help. Our coalition of concerned citizen groups and business from throughout B.C. is dedicated to delivering that message. The issues are well known and while words matter, now is the time for solutions.
Mayors Rally, BC Legislature, September 24, 2025 Escalating crime and violence are resulting in people being injured, families being afraid of neighbourhoods, employees in fear of going to work, businesses being forced to close, family supporting jobs lost and, in some cases, downtowns becoming ghost towns.
Communities Driving Change Forum, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, January 23, 2025 The skyrocketing security and theft costs for business result in the viability of businesses being threatened, businesses closing and family supporting jobs lost but also an estimated $500 per year increase in the cost of living for the average BC family.
Communities Driving Change Forum, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, January 23, 2025 Too often, a “Whack A Mole” approach is adopted with attention and resources being spent on addressing individual aspects of the issues (decriminalization; police resources; safe supply; homelessness; mental health services; judicial reform, etc.) when a comprehensive, cross government jurisdiction approach is required.
Communities Driving Change Forum, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, January 23, 2025 There is a close relationship between many of the issues. Much of the retail crime today is conducted by individuals attempting to support illicit drug habits but being “managed” by organized crime groups. Violence on the street and in business locales is often linked to mental health issues and illicit drug addictions. Lack of police, mental health, drug addiction, prosecutorial and judicial resources all have a role in the solution.
Mayors Rally, BC Legislature, September 24, 2025 Theft, vandalism, and violent crimes are often committed by the same person over and over again. With a perceived lack of appropriate deterrent from our justice system criminals feel free to repeat the crimes many times without serious consequence.
Mayors Rally, BC Legislature, September 24, 2025 It is time for government to accept and respond to their responsibilities.
Mayors Rally, BC Legislature, September 24, 2025 We call on government to implement innovative, aggressive and comprehensive solutions now.
Communities Driving Change Forum, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, January 23, 2025 SOS will establish a set of benchmarks that are credible and by which success or lack thereof in responding to the issues can be measured.
Mayors Rally, BC Legislature, September 24, 2025 SOS and its supporters stand ready to collaborate in any meaningful action and while words matter, success will be measured on results.
The Numbers
In 2025, 41,764 shoplifting incidents were reported to police in British Columbia. Of those, 4,061 led to a charge, and the other 37,703 did not. Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 (released July 22, 2026): police-reported shoplifting of $5,000 or under, British Columbia, 2025. A charge means one laid or recommended by police.
Our Members
129
- 7-Eleven Canada, Surrey
- Alder Bay Equity Partners, Vancouver
- Alliance of Beverage Licensees (AbleBC), Vancouver
- Ambleside Group
- Anthem Properties, Vancouver
- Aritzia, Vancouver
- Art Ink Print
- Bay Centre Victoria, Downtown Victoria
- BC Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver
- BC Hotel Association (BCHA), Vancouver
- BC Restaurants and Food Services Association, Richmond
- Beach Fire Brewing Co., Campbell River, Campbell River
- BIABC, Vancouver
- Bitter Baker, Sweet and Savoury
- Blackbird Security, Vancouver
- Borsato Property Management
- Business Council of BC, Vancouver
- Canadian Crafts
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Vancouver
- Canadians Against Crime & Public Drug Abuse, North Cowichan
- Century Plaza Hotel and Spa, Burrard Street, Vancouver
- CGI Digital
- Chilliwack Beware Crime and Safety, Chilliwack
- Chu Cho Environmental, Prince George, Prince George
- Cims Trail
- Circle K, National
- Citizens Take Action (Dawson Creek/Ft. St. John), Dawson Creek and Fort St. John
- Clean Streets Penticton, Penticton
- Clean Up V9L (Duncan), Duncan
- Columbia Guest House
- Commercial Drive Society, Commercial Drive, Vancouver
- Convenience Industry Council of Canada, National
- Cranbrook Neighbourhood Network, Cranbrook
- Destination Vancouver, Vancouver
- Doeisland Retreats
- Downtown Campbell River BIA, Campbell River
- Downtown Duncan BIA, Duncan
- Downtown Kamloops BIA, Downtown Kamloops
- Downtown Kelowna Association, Kelowna
- Downtown Nanaimo Business Association, Nanaimo
- Downtown Prince George, Prince George
- Downtown Surrey BIA, City Centre, Surrey
- Downtown Van, Downtown Vancouver
- Downtown Victoria Business Association, Downtown Victoria
- Downtown Williams Lake, Williams Lake
- Foy’s Irish Bar, Vancouver
- G.I.H. Properties Ltd.
- Gastown Business Improvement Society, Gastown, Vancouver
- Gastown Residents Association, Gastown, Vancouver
- Georgia Main Food Group, Burnaby
- Ginger Group
- Gold Silver Guy, Duncan
- Gourmet Warehouse, East Hastings, Vancouver
- Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Vancouver
- Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Victoria
- Hastings North BIA, East Hastings, Vancouver
- Highwaymen Barbers, Victoria
- IGA – Robson, Robson Street, Vancouver
- Independent Contractors & Businesses Assoc., Surrey
- Invictus Properties, Kamloops
- J. Gordon Enterprises
- Kamloops Citizens for Change, Kamloops
- Ken Ryu Jujutsu Society, Abbotsford
- Kerrisdale Business Association, Kerrisdale, Vancouver
- KLA Inc., Vancouver
- KMB Construction
- Kompassion For Kups
- Les Amis du Fromage, Vancouver
- LogisticsBC, Province-wide
- London Drugs, Richmond
- Lordco, Port Coquitlam
- Lululemon, Vancouver
- Magnolia Hotel and Spa, Victoria
- Marpole BIA, Marpole, Vancouver
- Marquis Wine, Vancouver
- MEC Mountain Equipment Company, Vancouver
- Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, Vancouver
- Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association, Nanaimo
- Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, Nanaimo
- Nelson Neighbourhood Network, Nelson
- New Image Salon
- Newcastle Community Association, Newcastle, Nanaimo
- Newcomers Sechelt, Sechelt
- North Shore BIA (Kamloops), North Shore, Kamloops
- Oliver B.C. Crimewatch and Speedcheck, Oliver
- Pacific Reach Properties, Vancouver
- Parksville Downtown Business Association, Parksville
- Pemberton Valley Lodge, Pemberton
- Pivot Society
- Point Grey Village Business Association, West Point Grey, Vancouver
- Prospero Int Realty Inc., Vancouver
- Quesnel Downtown Association, Quesnel
- Quesnel In Action, Quesnel
- Respond and Rebuild
- Restaurants Canada, National
- Retail Council of Canada, Vancouver
- Rexall, National
- Robson Street Business Association, Robson Street, Vancouver
- Rocky Mountaineer, Vancouver
- Rossland Computer Repair, Rossland
- Safer Vancouver, Vancouver
- Safewatch Live Monitoring Inc., Burnaby, Burnaby
- Save Our City Vancouver, Vancouver
- Save-On-Foods/Pattison Food Group, Langley
- Sechelt Downtown Business Association, Sechelt
- Securiguard, Burnaby
- South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce, 100 Mile House
- South Granville BIA, South Granville, Vancouver
- Stitching Arts and More Second Hand Store
- Strathcona BIA, Strathcona, Vancouver
- Surrey Board of Trade, Surrey
- Tango Meats and Deli
- The Cobbler Shoe Company
- The Lotus Strata BCS2884
- Themis Security, Victoria
- Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC), Vancouver
- Trail Neighbourhood Network (N2), Trail
- Urban Development Institute (UDI), Vancouver
- Vancity Health Clinic
- Victoria Crescent Association, Nanaimo, Victoria Crescent, Nanaimo
- Welk’s General Store, Main Street, Vancouver
- West 4th BIA, Kitsilano, Vancouver
- West Broadway BIA, Kitsilano, Vancouver
- Western Fire Forensics
- Whispering Waves Boutique, Campbell R., Campbell River
- Wolford Boutique
- Wroughtenart, Cowichan Valley, Cowichan Valley
- Yaherb Cannabis
- Zonda
The recent escalation in crime and violence in our communities has reached a crisis point. Many community members are afraid for themselves, their families and of the deterioration of their neighbourhoods as safe places to live, work and play. That fear is evidenced in the business community by employees being afraid of being assaulted in and around their job locations and customers becoming increasingly nervous over venturing into certain commercial areas.
The dramatic increase in the cost of security and absorbing costs of theft have resulted in businesses in jeopardy of closure, as some in fact have done, and in a significant increase in the cost of living for every family in British Columbia as prices of goods and services are increased in an attempt to recover those costs.
Community leaders from communities and businesses have been expressing concern over the threats of crime and violence in their communities for years. The issues are well known and while words matter, now is the time for solutions.
SOS is an internationally recognized signal of distress and a cry for help. Under the banner, Save Our Streets (SOS) Coalition, a growing number of concerned citizen groups and business from throughout BC representing communities have banded together to deliver this message.
Governments at all levels have responded in various ways to specific aspects of the problem but the conditions have worsened in many if not most circumstances.
Community groups have become engaged in various forms and have resulted in the realization that a province-wide, non-partisan movement is required to raise awareness of the issues and their cost to families and the community in a manner that makes this suite of issues an election priority in the next election cycle.
We call on governments to implement innovative, aggressive and comprehensive solutions now.
Escalating crime and violence are resulting in people being injured, families being afraid of neighbourhoods, employees in fear of going to work, businesses being forced to close, family supporting jobs lost and, in some cases, downtowns becoming ghost towns.
No. SOS is a non-partisan coalition of community interests that are banding together in response to the growing crisis of street crime and violence that is jeopardizing the safety and well-being of entire neighbourhoods, residents, businesses, their customers, and employees.
SOS Coalition membership is open to not-for-profit community groups and impacted businesses and their representative associations.
Too often the “Wack A Mole” approach is adopted with attention and resources being spent on addressing individual aspects of the issues (decriminalization; police resources; safe supply; homelessness; mental health services; judicial reform, etc.) when a comprehensive, cross government jurisdiction approach is required.
Yes. Further information available upon request and with agreement of store owners.
Yes. Further information available upon request and with agreement of store owners.
This is not just an urban issue. Communities and retailers across BC are plagued with increased retail theft, vandalism and violence
It’s demoralizing for staff and frontline workers overall. When we know that if someone came into an MLA office, a judge, a crown prosecutor office, and defecated, stole, injured or threated staff, it would be dealt with immediately. When they don’t see the laws changing, it’s a form of classism that is saying it is acceptable for this to impact retail employees but not us.
The SOS is not being prescriptive in demanding specific actions from government other than to fulfill their responsibility in addressing the entire suite of issues that have resulted in the current levels of crime and violence and fear.
The government has the knowledge of the issues, the financial and people resources, legislative authority, and responsibility to fix the issues. It is time for government to accept and respond to their responsibilities.
We call on government to implement innovative, aggressive and comprehensive solutions now.
The issue of repeat offenders is well known to government and to the judicial system. It is a source of extreme frustration for policing, retailers and the public. People are often put at risk of violent consequences. It is time for governments and the judicial system to take corrective measures.
Throughout our research, we’ve seen that thieves sometimes target retailers and resell stolen merchandise, like electronics, jewelry, clothing, perfume, cosmetics, and medication, on online marketplaces. Much of the retail crime today is highly organized, conducted by individuals attempting to support illicit drug habits but being “managed” by organized crime groups.
The skyrocketing security and theft costs for business result in the viability of businesses being threatened, businesses closing and family supporting jobs lost but also an estimated $500 per year increase in the cost of living for the average BC family.
There is a close relationship between many of the issues. Much of the retail crime today is conducted by individuals attempting to support illicit drug habits but being “managed” by organized crime groups. Violence on the street and in business locales is often linked to mental health issues and illicit drug addictions. Lack of police, mental health, drug addiction, prosecutorial and judicial resources all have a role in the solution.
Community leaders from communities and businesses have been expressing concern over the threats of crime and violence in their communities for years. Governments at all levels have responded in various ways to specific aspects of the problem but the conditions have worsened in many if not most circumstances.
Government has the knowledge of the issues, the financial and people resources, legislative authority, and responsibility to fix the issues. It is time for government to accept and respond to their responsibilities in a comprehensive manner that provides measurable results.
SOS is not being prescriptive in demanding specific actions from government other than to fulfill their responsibility in addressing the entire suite of issues that have resulted in the current levels of crime and violence and fear. SOS will develop in collaboration with subject experts a number of Key Performance Measures that can be used to determine success or lack thereof of government responses.
SOS will establish a set of benchmarks that are credible and by which success or lack thereof in responding to the issues can be measured. SOS and its supporters stand ready to collaborate in any meaningful action and while words matter, success will be measured by results.
We are brought together by a common concern for the safety of our communities. Individual groups could very well have their own local concerns and positions on issues.
SOS is not being prescriptive in demanding what policies or actions government should take but rather holding them accountable for addressing the overall problem of crime and violence on our streets and providing the public the tools to measure the level of success.
The power of one message, many voices, has the most influence on government policy decision making. Participation in the SOS coalition also allows collaboration with others focused on positive change for the public good.
Still have a question?
Contact us