Abbotsford – On September 11th, 2026, AbbyPD officers conducted a large-scale retail theft enforcement operation as part of a Nationwide retail crime blitz targeting individuals involved in retail crime.
The operation, dubbed Project Pumpkin Spice LAW-tte, was led by AbbyPD’s Street Outreach Response Team (SORT) and involved 11 officers over a ten-hour period. During the operation, 16 people were arrested for a range of offences, including new theft-related charges and outstanding warrants. Officers also seized a vehicle as offence-related property and are pursuing its forfeiture.
In total, more than $1,600 worth of merchandise was identified as stolen, recovered, or returned during the blitz. Many of those arrested are known to police. Throughout the operation, officers also conducted warrant and condition compliance checks on numerous individual’s officers encountered.
Abbotsford is home to hundreds of businesses, ranging from large retail chains and big-box stores to small, family-owned shops. As part of Project Pumpkin Spice LAW-tte, 20 retail outlets across Abbotsford participated in the operation. Funding for this initiative was provided by the province of BC’s Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program (CSTEP) funding stream.
Shoplifting impacts the entire community by driving up costs for consumers, placing financial strain on businesses, and, in some cases, contributing to store closures. AbbyPD remains committed to working with businesses and residents to prevent theft, support victims, and hold offenders accountable.
