Two women charged after security guards attacked in downtown Vancouver shoplifting incidents
Vancouver police charged two women with robbery after separate thefts at stores near Granville and Robson streets on Thursday afternoon escalated into attacks on security guards.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on vpd.ca.
Two women are facing charges after shoplifting incidents at stores near Granville and Robson streets in downtown Vancouver turned violent on Thursday afternoon, the Vancouver Police Department reported on November 13.
The first incident began at 3:20 p.m. at a clothing store when a 60-year-old woman allegedly stole apparel. When a security guard tried to stop her, she bit him on the hand, according to Vancouver Police. Charges are pending.
At 4:20 p.m., a 43-year-old woman allegedly stole a speaker from an electronics store in the same area. When staff tried to stop her, she slashed a guard's arm with a weapon and threatened to kill him before leaving the store. Officers located a person matching her description near Mainland and Nelson streets 20 minutes later and made an arrest. She now faces four charges: theft, uttering threats, assault with a weapon, and assault causing bodily harm. She was held in custody at the time of the police report.
What police say
Constable Megan Lui said: "Violence and threats against people preventing crime are unacceptable, and the Vancouver Police Department remains committed to holding offenders accountable."
The two incidents happened within one hour and two blocks of each other, both in the Granville and Robson area of the downtown core. In both cases the person accused attacked the security guard after the guard tried to stop a theft. The 43-year-old used a weapon and also threatened the guard's life, which is reflected in the four charges she faces.
The 60-year-old faces pending charges. The VPD report does not name either woman, as is standard before charges are formally laid.
What retail workers in downtown Vancouver can do
Anyone who witnesses violence against a security guard or other worker in downtown Vancouver can report it to Vancouver Police. For non-emergency reports, the number is 604-717-3321. For an incident in progress, call 911.
Retail workers who have information about either incident or who have witnessed similar attacks in the Granville and Robson area can contact Vancouver Police directly.
The VPD news release is at vpd.ca.
Questions this story answers
What happened at the stores near Granville and Robson streets on November 13, 2026?
Two women separately stole items from stores near Granville and Robson streets in downtown Vancouver during the afternoon of November 13, 2026. In both cases the thefts turned violent when security guards tried to stop them. One guard was bitten on the hand and another was slashed on the arm with a weapon and threatened. Vancouver Police arrested both women.
What charges are the two women facing?
The 60-year-old woman faces pending charges following the clothing store incident. The 43-year-old woman faces four charges: theft, uttering threats, assault with a weapon, and assault causing bodily harm. She was taken into custody and remained there at the time of the Vancouver Police Department's report on November 13.
What did Vancouver Police say about these incidents?
Vancouver Police Constable Megan Lui said: 'Violence and threats against people preventing crime are unacceptable, and the Vancouver Police Department remains committed to holding offenders accountable.' The statement points to a concern about risks that retail security workers face in downtown Vancouver.
Where exactly did the incidents take place?
Both incidents took place near Granville and Robson streets in downtown Vancouver. The clothing store incident occurred at 3:20 p.m. and the electronics store incident at 4:20 p.m. on November 13. Officers arrested the second suspect near Mainland and Nelson streets, about 20 minutes after the incident.
Were these the same person or different suspects?
These were two separate women arrested in two separate incidents one hour apart. The first suspect is 60 years old and faces pending charges. The second suspect is 43 years old and was taken into custody on four charges including assault with a weapon.
What should residents and retail workers in downtown Vancouver know?
Vancouver Police are aware of the incidents and made both arrests on November 13. Residents and retail workers who witness violence or threats against security staff in downtown Vancouver can report it to Vancouver Police. The department's statement says it is committed to holding people accountable when crime turns violent.
Is this part of a broader pattern of retail theft in Vancouver?
The Vancouver Police Department report from November 13 describes two incidents on the same afternoon in the same area of downtown Vancouver. The report does not describe a broader trend or series of incidents beyond these two cases. Vancouver Police have reported on retail crime concerns in past statements about downtown Vancouver.
Who released the information about these incidents?
The Vancouver Police Department released the information on November 13, 2026. The report was written by Constable Megan Lui and is published at vpd.ca, the department's official website. The CTV News report on November 14 is based on the same VPD statement.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
