Photo credit: the Globe and Mail
Prince Rupert in British Columbia is a beautiful coastal town in Canada.
The Daily Mail reports that the isolated town is now so dangerous that Walmart has closed its local supermarket due to fears for staff safety. It’s the only Walmart within a 144km radius. Being a lifeline for many low-income residents, it will be missed by them.
The town of 12,000 has become an unlikely breeding ground for crime, drugs and homelessness. Local business owners have said the once-peaceful area is now plagued by constant shoplifting and vandalism, which often escalates into violence.
Shocking figures reveal that Prince Rupert’s crime index is more than double the provincial average and more than 3.5 times higher than the national average. Figures for 2020 show the area recorded 14,977 crimes per 100,000 people. The provincial average is 6,040, and the national average is 4,233.
Criminology expert Neil Boyd said that although crime rate stats improved a little in 2024, overall, the outlook for the city is still bleak.
Canada Crime Report figures show that the city is way above the national average for both violent and non-violent crimes. It’s unclear what sparked the increase.
Stores have been shuttering their doors in response. Walmart has shut its doors, citing “safety concerns” for staff and customers. The decision came after a temporary shutdown earlier this year.
A recent survey by the Business Improvement Association of British Columbia found that two-thirds of 350 businesses in Prince Rupert reported an increase in disorder in stores over the past year. They cited increased drug use and homeless encampments in the area, saying poverty was triggering an increase in theft and violence.
The poll also found that nearly one in five business owners said their business may not be financially viable beyond the next year unless conditions improve.
