Repeat Offenders Fueling Retail Theft

Nearly two years after launching a dedicated Organized Retail Crime Unit, the initiative has resulted in hundreds of arrests, thousands of charges and the disruption of organized criminal networks responsible for large-scale retail theft across the city.

Speaking at a news conference at Toronto Police headquarters on August 5, Chief Myron Demkiw and Superintendent Ron Taverner highlighted the unit's achievements while urging retailers and the public to continue reporting thefts.

Since the investigation team was was established in 23 Division, investigators have made 546 arrests, laid 4,033 charges and recovered more than $1.6 million in stolen merchandise.

Police said many of those arrested are repeat offenders with links to organized crime groups that steal and resell merchandise for profit.

Demkiw said everyone is hurt by retail theft.

“Every year, it is estimated that Canadian retailers lose millions of dollars to retail crime,” he said. “This hurts big chains and mom-and-pop shops alike, it hurts the economy and it makes people feel unsafe in their neighbourhoods… One investigation in particular resulted in 20 individuals arrested and more than 400 charges.”

Demkiw said the punishment needs to start matching the crime.

“There is repeat offenders time and time again being involved in this kind of criminality and it has a horrible impact on people’s sense of safety and security,” Demkiw said. “We need a whole of system approach. A justice system willing to tackle this, prosecutors that are willing to deal with it in court and have meaningful consequences, which includes incarceration.”

Demkiw credited the initiative created by 23 Division for producing significant results in a relatively short period.

“Addressing retail crime is essential to strengthening community trust and ensuring that businesses and people can thrive safely,” Demkiw said. “Not only that, but this work is essential to disrupting organized crime, which often relies on proceeds from these thefts to fund other criminal activity.”

He praised the work of investigators and the partnerships developed with retailers and industry organizations.

“The Organized Retail Crime Unit is a strong example of how we remain agile and ready to act with tailored solutions,” Demkiw said. “Thank you for being focused on delivering real, tangible results that have positive repercussions for reducing broader criminal activity across our city.

Taverner said the unit was created to provide retailers with a dedicated investigative team and a consistent point of contact.

“When we established our Organized Retail Crime Unit nearly two years ago, our goal was to bring dedicated investigators together under one roof with a clear mandate to create a consistent point of contact for retailers, strengthen investigations and hold prolific offenders accountable,” he said.

During the news conference, police released surveillance videos showing offenders brazenly stealing merchandise from an LCBO, a Shoppers Drug Mart and a Walmart.

In one incident, police said a suspect used pepper spray while attempting to flee after security staff and members of the public intervened.

Taverner said the cases demonstrate that organized retail theft extends well beyond opportunistic shoplifting.

“Our investigations show that many of those involved are not first-time offenders,” he said. "In fact, of the 546 arrests made, 259 involved offenders linked to multiple cleared cases, demonstrating the repeat and prolific nature of this type of criminal activity.”

He added that investigators have found many suspects are connected to larger criminal organizations.

“These offenders are often also connected to larger organized crime networks involved in the distribution and resale of stolen goods,” Taverner said. “Every investigation we complete helps disrupt organized criminal activity, hold offenders accountable and make our communities safer.”

Police credited close collaboration with retailers, loss prevention officers and the Retail Council of Canada for helping investigators identify prolific offenders, share intelligence and build stronger cases.

Rui Rodrigues, who leads the Retail Council of Canada's national work on retail crime and organized retail crime, said the problem has grown far beyond ordinary shoplifting and now poses a significant public safety challenge.

“Retail crime is not simple shoplifting, and it is absolutely not victimless,” he said. “It threatens frontline employees, fuels organized criminal activity and places growing burden on businesses and consumers.”

Rodrigues said retailers across Canada are experiencing increasing violence against employees, organized theft rings operating across municipal boundaries and stolen merchandise being funnelled through online marketplaces and informal retail networks.

“This is no longer a retail problem," he noted. “It is a community safety problem and increasingly an organized crime problem.”

While praising the Toronto Police Service's Organized Retail Crime Unit, Rodrigues stressed that policing alone cannot solve the issue.

“Retailers cannot solve this alone, and police can’t solve this alone,” he noted. “Prosecutors and government cannot solve this alone. We need to work together as a community.”

Rodrigues also called for stronger prosecution, broader use of new Criminal Code provisions and the creation of a provincially funded Joint Force Operation dedicated to organized retail crime.

“Retail crime is organized,” he said. “Our response must be organized. One team, one intelligence model and one coordinated approach.”

While celebrating the unit's success, Taverner stressed that the work is ongoing.

“These investigations continue, and we anticipate more arrests to come,” he said. “If you believe you have been a victim of a retail theft, we are asking you to please contact police.”