Recent findings from a study conducted by the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) reveal that organized crime represents the most significant threat to retailers across the country. The study surveyed more than 20,000 retail businesses. Most shocking was its finding that 95% of retailers regard organized crime as their top threat. These dangerous statistics call attention to the need for greater protection and greater enforcement of our laws.
For Emmanuel Men’s Clothing owner Roger Azuelos — like many small business owners — this was a grave danger. His store was targeted in a spree of thefts led by a trio of thieves. “By the time I went to see the two other guys in the other part of the store, I came back and I saw one guy touching the machine, the credit card machine,” Azuelos recounted. At the end of the day, he was personally $4900 in the hole. This case provides a glimpse into the nationwide epidemic of retail theft that has caused members of our coalition to incur billions in losses.
The RCC study confirms what we can all see—the plague of organized retail crime has skyrocketed. In 2023, retailers incurred $9.2 billion in losses, nearly double what they lost in 2018. These findings demonstrate once again that retail theft, especially shoplifting, is a pervasive crime. Indeed, 87% of respondents listed it as their second largest menace. In addition, return frauds became the third most urgent concern, with 56% of retailers reporting on it.
As far as Michel Rochette, president of RCC Quebec is concerned, the repeat offenders play a large role in this crisis. According to him, close to 18% of people arrested for retail crimes are repeat offenders. “This is not a series of isolated incidents: it is an organized, violent and structured phenomenon that affects all types of businesses, from large chains to independent merchants,” Rochette remarked.
Beyond lost dollars, retailers are experiencing a dramatic rise in violence associated with theft. Since 2018, robbery-related attacks have increased 61%. Over three-quarters of retailers say violence is on the rise in their establishments. Rui Rodrigues, executive advisor of the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC), emphasized the severity of this issue, stating, “In Canada, for the last three, four years, we’ve seen a drastic increase in retail crime.”
To help stop this new and deadly trend, a nationwide Enforcement Right-Of-Way Blitz will run from September 8th through the 17th. As with any such initiative, during this time police services will deploy enhanced enforcement efforts to combat retail crime nationally. “So September 8th, we’re starting our national blitz where we work with police services to focus on retail crime,” Rodrigues added.
