FROM DAILY MAIL: Surrounded by lush forest and built around a historic ship port, Prince Rupert could easily be the picture on a postcard.
But this Canadian coastal town is now so dangerous Walmart has closed its local supermarket due to fears for staff safety.
The only Walmart within a 144km radius, the budget supermarket is a lifeline for many of the low-income residents in the town, and will be a huge loss for families.
The town of 12,000 is now a hotbed for crime, drugs, and homelessness, with local businesses complaining of constant shoplifting and vandalism that becomes violent.
Prince Rupert’s crime index is 3.5 times higher than the national average.
The crime is so bad that the only Walmart in the area closed, citing “safety concerns: for staff and customers.
“We know how much the community valued this store, and while this is not the outcome we hoped for, this decision was only made after a full review of options,” the store said in a statement.
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