The Impact of Organized Retail Crime on Ontario Businesses

The Retail Council of Canada estimates that Canadian retailers lost a total of $9.1 billion to theft in 2024, an 82% increase from 2018 when the total reached just $5 billion. Organized retail crime has negatively impacted businesses since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the problem continues to worsen despite the best efforts of law enforcement agencies. Ontario is particularly affected by ORC due to its status as a retail hub. Today, we’ll examine the impact of ORC in Ontario and how retail security teams are helping fight organized theft.

What is Organized Retail Crime?

Organized retail crime (ORC) is a method of precise, organized shoplifting conducted by groups of individuals. Unlike shoplifting, which sees perpetrators stealing small numbers of items for personal use, ORC involves a coordinated, systematic effort to steal large volumes of high-value goods from stores. These stolen goods are then resold on alternative markets, including online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay. 

Organized retail crime operations involve multiple people working together, including 'boosters' who conduct the thefts, getaway drivers, and 'fences' who sell the stolen goods through various channels. Rather than one-off incidents, ORC groups often hit multiple stores in succession, sometimes stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise in a single run.

To make matters worse, these groups are increasingly willing to use violence or threats. According to the Retail Council of Canada, approximately 45% of 2024 organized retail crime incidents included violence against retail staff and customers, making organized theft a serious safety concern for Ontario businesses. 

Ontario’s Organized Retail Crime Problem

Ontario is Canada’s logistics hub. Toronto has 822.51 million square feet of inventory holding space, almost doubling every other city’s inventory capacity combined and making it a prime target for ORC activity. However, while Toronto may be the retail hub of Ontario, smaller cities in the area have been grappling with organized theft.

In November, three people were arrested and charged in connection with a local ORC ring in Peterborough. Police recovered approximately $11,500 worth of stolen goods from the suspects’ vehicle. Meanwhile, last April in Vaughn, over 170 individuals were arrested for ORC thefts, over 350 charges were laid, and $150,000 of stolen property was recovered.

To combat ORC, the York Regional Police implemented Project Spartan between October 2023 and July 2024. The project was a joint effort between LCBO, Home Depot, and the YPD to investigate, arrest, and charge individuals with ORC connections. During the eight-month crackdown, the YPD launched ten investigations, resulting in 16 arrests and 1,538 charges against ORC members. These suspects were reportedly responsible for a staggering $623,852 in thefts.

How Retail Security Helps Prevent Organized Retail Crime

While efforts by the YPD and other Ontario police departments are commendable, the ORC problem is far from over. Businesses can and should provide as much protection for themselves as possible by utilizing a professional retail security team. Here’s an overview of the most common retail security roles:

Uniformed Security Guards

Uniformed security guards serve as the first line of defence against retail crime of all kinds while maintaining a welcoming environment for legitimate customers. These guards monitor store entrances and conduct regular patrols throughout the store, providing a visible security presence that helps deter potential criminal activity. 

Undercover Loss Prevention Operatives

Undercover Loss Prevention Operatives (LPOs) work discreetly within retail environments to identify and document suspicious activity and thefts. By blending in with shoppers, LPOs can closely observe suspicious behaviour and collect evidence of theft without alerting potential criminals to their presence. 

Tactical Security Guards

Tactical security guards provide enhanced protection for retail locations experiencing higher rates of crime or located in high-risk areas. These specially trained guards wear distinctive uniforms, including tactical vests and gear, creating a strong visual deterrent to potential criminals. Tactical security guards undergo specialized training in physical intervention techniques, including the proper use of batons and handcuffs. As a result, these guards are uniquely equipped to handle aggressive situations and organized retail crime incidents. 

Retail Security Guards Collaborate with Law Enforcement

Unfortunately, not every jurisdiction in Canada is able to launch an initiative like Project Spartan, as many police departments are unable to dedicate officers to these issues. In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Roger Wilkie, deputy chief of Halton Regional Police and president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, said, “The bandwidth is not there. We are all struggling to put enough boots on the ground to meet our calls for service.” 

One solution is partnering with security guards. By utilizing the additional resources and manpower made available by professional security guards, police officers can more effectively fight ORC. In fact, Project Spartan itself was conducted in collaboration with the LCBO Resource Protection Unit and Home Depot Asset Protection Department. Security guards frequently collaborate with police officers in every province. As they are often eyewitnesses to crimes, a security guard’s firsthand account and, importantly, their report play key roles in helping police officers prevent crimes. 

At Blackbird Security, our guards receive advanced training through our in-house training program, Blackbird Academy. One of these training courses is Reporting Excellence, which trains our guards in writing comprehensive, thorough, and effective reports. Among other courses are Standard First Aid, Peaceful De-Escalation Training, Introduction to Canadian Criminal Law, and Customer Service Excellence. 

Blackbird Security collaborates with the York Regional Police Recruiting Department to help prepare security guards for a career in policing. Learn more about our partnership in our previous blog, Blackbird Supports: Security Employees on their Path to Policing.

Partner With Ontario’s Leading Retail Security Company

As organized retail crime continues to impact businesses across Ontario and surrounding Toronto, professional security services remain essential for protecting retail locations, staff, and customers. Whether your retail business requires uniformed security guards, undercover loss prevention operatives, or tactical security guards, our experienced teams will develop a security strategy tailored to your business’s unique needs. 

Get in touch with us using the form below to learn how we can help protect your retail business.

Curious about the impact of organized retail crime? Read our previous blogs:

• Retail Security: Spotting and Preventing Shoplifters at Arc'teryx

• Spotting Shoplifters: 5 Key Organized Retail Crime Identifiers

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• Mobile Patrol Security

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• Executive Protection

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