Police say suspects caught on video “blatantly” filling up empty bags and suitcases with merchandise stolen from the LCBO are among the more than 500 who are now facing charges in a retail theft crackdown that has been ongoing for the past two years.
Speaking at a news conference at Toronto police headquarters, Supt. Ron Taverner, who is in charge of the unit, which operates out of 23 Division, said more than 4,000 charges have been laid to date.
He noted the investigations involve about $1.6 million in stolen merchandise.
In one investigation, 20 people were arrested and more than 400 charges were laid, Taverner said.
“Many of those involved are not first-time offenders… Repeat and prolific offenders are out there and active in their criminal activities,” he said.
“These offenders are often also connected to larger organized crime networks involved in the distribution and resale of stolen goods. That’s why tackling these crimes is so significant.”
In a video shown during the news conference, a group of masked males could be seen entering a Toronto LCBO with large empty bags and suitcases. The suspects are then seen filling the bags and leaving unimpeded.
Taverner said those suspects were subsequently arrested by police.
“These are not minor offences,” he said. “Retail crimes cost businesses billions of dollars in losses every year.”
‘Steal-to-order’
Rui Rodrigues, of the Retail Council of Canada, said repeated offenders are cycling through the system with “little deterrence.”
“Retailers are also having to consider where to open a store and how safe is it to be there and will the customers come to me there? So these are challenges retailers are facing regularly now,” he said.
He noted that the online, illicit marketplace has grown exponentially in the last five years, and alarming trends are emerging, including escalating violence toward frontline employees.
He noted that investigators have also uncovered “steal-to-order” trends, where criminals will advertise going out and getting items that have not yet been stolen.
“Somebody wants something, they send somebody out to get it,” Rodrigues said.
“Retailers who are carrying these higher-value goods have to do a lot to protect themselves.”
