Partnerships Crucial in Reining in Retail Theft
Partnerships are key in combatting the $9.1 billion price tag of organized retail theft in 2024, said Staff Superintendent Joe Matthews at the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) Retail Secure Conference on March 19 at the International Centre.
“The product losses and increased cost of security and insurance are felt by the consumer in the cost of products,” said Matthews, who was a keynote speaker at the conference. “Although individual product losses may seem insignificant, organized retail theft will have a significant impact on our economy if left unchecked.”
To address the surge, he encouraged retailers to utilize emerging technologies to safeguard their businesses.
“Surveillance cameras, alarm systems and electronic article surveillance tags can deter potential thieves,” Matthews said. “Retailers can leverage software to identify the groups and individuals committing these offences.”
He also told retailers they also have a vital role in participating in the prosecution process.
“This is imperative and in many ways a call to action,” said Matthews. “We need your help. If there is no follow-through, we will not solve the issues. I understand the frustration. We share it, but we are all responsible to work within the legal framework to address this important issue.”
Last year, Toronto Police launched a pilot project in 23 Division to investigate organized retail theft.
Since its inception, the team has investigated 476 occurrences of over $229,000 in stolen property. A total of 49 people have been arrested and 519 charges have been laid.
Earlier this year, 14 Division developed an action plan to address the issue.
“The goal is to scale these initiatives across the city into each Division with an expectation of collaboration between units and surrounding police services,” Matthews said. “23 Division has already started to share information with Peel Regional Police Service to address the overlap of retail crime.”
The senior officer who oversees Detective Services, which includes several investigative units, including the Hold-Up Squad, said the partnership between law enforcement and retailers is crucial in effectively addressing retail crime.
“By working together, sharing information and implementing coordinated strategies, we can create a safer environment for businesses and communities alike,” added Matthews. “This collaboration not only enhances our ability to prevent and respond to incidents but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and trust. Together, we can tackle the challenges of retail crime and ensure a secure and thriving retail environment.”
This annual event brings together top retail loss prevention experts, industry suppliers and security and law enforcement professionals to explore actionable systems and forward-thinking retail solutions.
With retailers facing increasing challenges from theft, fraud and other criminal activities which not only impact profits, but also create safety concerns for customers and staff, addressing these issues requires a unified, collaborative approach.
Acting Inspector Sean Cosgrove, of 32 Division, sat on a panel that shared their insights on how partnerships can transform the fight against retail crime.
“Changes in societal norms can and are influencing perceptions of acceptable behaviour,” he said. “Urban centres and high-density areas can create environments where individuals feel less accountable, contributing to a rise in opportunistic and organized retail crime. The rise of social media has also played a part with organized retail crime sometimes being displayed on these platforms and influencing others. The biggest evolution in confronting retail thefts is partnership. How can we partner and share resources in a way that addresses laws? Data is also constantly evolving and we need to have partnerships that can respond effectively to historical or emerging crime trends.”
