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This article was published 24/11/2019 (307 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A sharp rise in shoplifting at an inner-city convenience store has resulted in the business closing its doors for good.

The 7-Eleven at the corner of William Avenue and Isabel Street in the Centennial neighbourhood will permanently close Monday. The store’s last day of business is Sunday, Nov. 24.

"With deep regrets to our loyal customers we will be permanently closing Nov. 24, 2019. We look forward to serving you at (our) Salter location... Thank you for your support," reads a sign posted to the store’s window.

While 7-Eleven has not provided an official reason for the closure, an employee and area residents have said it’s because a significant amount of product is being stolen from the store every day.

"I don’t like it, but what can you do about it when every second person that comes in here steals from it? If you sit here for an hour, you’ll see people walking in and walking out," said Clayton Carriere, an area resident.

"These two women just walked out with two jugs of milk, hash bowns and they even had the nerve to ask if they had any eggs left. They just walked right out. It happens all the time here. That’s why they have to close it down."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The 7-Eleven at William Avenue and Isabel Street

The closure will have an impact on the inner-city community, which doesn’t have a lot of grocery options. For some residents, the 7-Eleven was the easiest place to get milk or breakfast items, bus passes or their morning coffee.

"A lot of people come here for their morning coffee and that. There’s not many options around here, especially for 55 cents for a coffee — you can’t go wrong," Carriere said.

The decision by 7-Eleven to shut down its store comes during a year when property crime has been on the rise throughout the city.

In July, new data from Statistics Canada showed a 77 per cent increase in theft under $5,000 in Winnipeg. Meanwhile, property crimes in general rose 19 per cent in the city.

When the Free Press went to the 7-Eleven at 500 William Ave., the store manager directed the reporter to the corporate office.

A request for comment from the 7-Eleven corporate office was not responded to prior to deadline Sunday.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe