‘A violating feeling’: Local store owner on second shoplifting incident in two months

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A Fort St. John store has been targeted by shoplifters for the second time in two months.

New storeowner Bailey Ryder took the lease of the Scoop and Laine Collective from Paulette Flamond in December.

Flamond had owned the store since 2008 and retired after the 2024 holiday season.

Ryder says on the morning of Monday, January 20th, a woman came into her store and she described them as “frantic” and appearing “rushed”.

“They came in fast approaching a clothing rack,” said Ryder. “They asked if there was a sale. She expressed that none of her size was on the rack she was looking at.

“I calmly greeted her and assured her that we had more sizes. I then asked if she was looking for anything specific. She said no, and she quickly bounced in between racks quickly.”

It was then Ryder asked about moving items the woman had chosen to the fitting room. The individual then proceeded to the fitting room and emerged moments later to pay for items in cash.

Ryder noticed the woman’s pants as “a little thicker” than when she entered the store.

“I went to the dressing room immediately and that’s when I found empty pant hangers hidden in other clothes she was planning to try on,” said Ryder.

Two pairs of pants were allegedly taken in the incident. This is in addition to several incidents involving local shops being posted on social media throughout December.

“I know that this year’s Christmas season was hard on everyone locally,” said Ryder. “I was watching closely through Facebook and every local business was sharing who was going around to shop without paying.” 

She says another alleged incident happened in December at Scoop and Laine Collective before she took ownership.

Ryder, who is operating the store on a “soft opening” scenario before its formal opening on February 1st, says the whole situation has given her a “violating” feeling and took to Facebook to find the alleged culprit.

“This individual probably hangs around my city block quite frequently,” said Ryder. “It’s a fear that person would come back.

“It’s not the type of community greeting you anticipate to receive when you’re opening a new business. It hurt the heart for sure.”

Energeticcity.ca reached out to the Fort St. John RCMP but did not receive comment about this case by publication time. Anyone with information should call 250-787-8140.