The P.E.I. Liquor Commission says the number of people banned from its stores in connection to thefts doubled last year.

Commission chair Wayne MacDougall said in a typical year about 12 peopleĀ areĀ banned from liquor stores for shoplifting or breaking and entering, but 2006 was a record year.

Nineteen were banned for shoplifting, and six more for breaking into liquor stores.

Police are sent copies of all trespass notices. The bans are for one year.