St. Thomas, ON – Wednesday October 23rd, 2024
St. Thomas Police Urge Retail Crime Prevention Amid Growing Concern
The St. Thomas Police Service is raising awareness about the rising trend of shoplifting and retail crime, as newly released national crime statistics show a 28 per cent increase in shoplifting incidents under $5,000 across Canada. In total, Canada experienced 155,280 reported incidents of shoplifting in 2023, marking an 18 per cent rise from 2022.
With the escalating cost of living, retail crime places an additional burden on consumers by driving up prices and jeopardizing the safety of retail environments.
The Retail Safety & Security Guide is designed to assist retail businesses of all sizes in preventing crime and enhancing safety for both staff and customers.
Key Messages:
- The increase in retail crime affects everyone, from consumers to retail workers, as it raises operational costs and threatens community safety.
- Collaboration between police services and the community is critical to curbing retail crime, including common offenses such as shoplifting, robbery, break and enter, and fraud.
- Businesses can take active measures to prevent retail crime through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies, installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and ensuring proper training for staff.
The St. Thomas Police Service encourages local retailers to take action by implementing these crime prevention strategies, helping reduce the opportunity for theft and ensuring a safer retail environment. Businesses are urged to familiarize themselves with the recommendations outlined in the Retail Safety & Security Guide and adopt policies that promote both staff and customer safety.
The retail safety guide can be downloaded here
