They're happy to have the customers, but are worried about the small percentage of people who see their reusable bag as a tool for shoplifting. "Now, with reusable bags, they look around and maybe 30, 40 per cent of their customers appear to be suspicious." Instead, they put the items they want to buy directly into their reusable bags. Some of the council's members are also worried about how criminals could turn reusable bags into tools for shoplifting, said Jim Cormier, the council's Atlantic director. Bookbags, reusable grocery bags and even purses can help shoplifters conceal their thefts, said Jim Cormier with the Retail Council of Canada.

Source: CBC News April 13, 2019 09:00 UTC