NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE SERVICE
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Nationally, the rate of shoplifting is on the rise.
According to police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2023, the rate of shoplifting of $5,000 or under has increased by 28 per cent. More specifically, following a large decrease at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, shoplifting has increased beyond pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, there were 155,280 incidents. This was 18 per cent higher than in 2022 and four per cent higher than in 2019.
Police need to work together with their communities to combat retail crime. Retail crime has a tangible impact on the safety and well-being of everyone in our communities. Knowing the facts about the negative impact of retail crime on consumers, business owners, and retail workers is key to combating retail crimes. The most common and severe forms of retail crime include robbery, break and enter, fraud, and shoplifting. Retail’s safety and security is crucial, and by actively reporting theft, retailers play a vital role in a collaborative effort to reduce retail crime overall.
Report it so we can solve it
It is important to report any crime, even a crime that may seem minor in nature. Reporting these crimes can play a vital role that can connect suspects to specific crimes or ongoing criminal activity. With the online reporting tool, South Simcoe police is making it easier and more accessible for the public to report a non-emergency incident, such as retail theft. Since the South Simcoe Police Service launched the online reporting tool in April 2024, it has proven to be a success in helping to solve crimes, especially in cases related to retail theft. Recently, South Simcoe police arrested and charged a 35-year-old female from Scarborough and 26-year-old female from Toronto with theft under $5,000. These arrests stemmed from an ongoing investigation that was linked to multiple retail theft occurrences, which were previously reported online.
“Crime prevention is a shared responsibility, and we continue to work with local businesses in our ongoing efforts to combat retail theft. Each incident, no matter how small, affects our community and economy. We encourage retailers to use our online reporting tool to report thefts promptly to help police solve crimes and prevent further thefts from happening.” — Police Const. Nicole Kostiuk, South Simcoe police
Retail safety: OACP and partners launch Retail Safety & Security Guide
The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police has collaborated with its partners at the Toronto Police Service, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, and the Retail Council of Canada to create the Retail Safety & Security Guide. This guide is intended to help retail businesses of all sizes across Ontario prevent and reduce incidents of crime as well as keep customers and staff safe. The guide provides practical guidelines and resources to help businesses:
- Be less vulnerable to crime;
- Identify and select an appropriate response to address retail crime;
- Outline methods to prevent and address the most common and severe forms of retail crime;
- Review techniques to address abusive customers, suspicious individuals, intoxicated individuals, as well as individuals experiencing a mental health crisis;
- Provide measures to address or prevent violence in the workplace between customers or customers and staff.
The Retail Safety & Security Guide is available online on the Retail Council of Canada website.
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