Local businesses are fed up with the amount of shoplifting that is happening.

Bruce Kozak, owner of Pass the Pop, has seen it happening too much lately.

“From what I’ve seen, there are definitely groups of people going around shoplifting and causing trouble in town. They’re usually together as family, so like mother, daughter or mother, sister or it could be like girlfriend and boyfriend combination, but they are definitely going in pairs."

Sherri Gardner, owner of Super Thrifty Pharmacy, has had a variety of different things taken.

“We’ve noticed it more now because we have cameras everywhere so we’re watching. We’ve had people steal almost $300 in clothing, and we’ve had people steal hair dyes and make up; and it’s been happening more and more.  We’ve just been really vigilant in watching the cameras.”

Gardiner had to install cabinets to lock up makeup because the theft of it was getting so bad, she was losing money and had to quit selling it for a month.

Both Kozak and Gardiner said it’s hard for businesses to recover losses and unfortunately it makes the prices of merchandise go up that much more because businesses can’t lose money and stay in business.

Kozak noted that a lot of businesses don’t know what they can do when they catch a shoplifter, because they don’t want to be breaking the law.

Businesses are encouraged to come to a meeting put on by Riehl Securities tomorrow at noon in the Lion’s Den.