More than 500 arrests, 4K charges by Toronto retail crime unit since formation

Toronto's specialized organized retail crime unit has achieved significant results in its two years of operation, leading to 546 arrests and 4,033 charges. Police also recovered more than $1.6 million in stolen merchandise linked to investigations, according to a recent news release.

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Every year it’s estimated that Canadian retailers lose billions of dollars to retail crime. This hurts big chains and mom and pop shops, it hurts the economy, and it’s made people feel unsafe in their neighbourhoods.

Chief Myron Demkiw stated that retail crime costs Canadian retailers billions annually, affecting businesses of all sizes and contributing to a sense of unsafety in neighborhoods. The unit, formed in 2024, was established to address a rise in retail crime in north Etobicoke and provides a consistent point of contact for retailers, along with a streamlined reporting process.

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This work is essential to disrupting organized crime, which often relies on proceeds from these crimes to fund other criminal activity.

Demkiw highlighted successful investigations, including one that led to 20 arrests and over 400 charges. He emphasized the unit's role in disrupting organized crime, which often uses proceeds from retail theft to fund other illicit activities. Supt. Ron Taverner noted the strong connection between organized crime and retail crime, stressing that tackling this issue disrupts the distribution and resale of stolen goods.

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Tackling retail crime is “significant” because it disrupts the distribution and resale of stolen goods.

Retailers and police are advocating for a collaborative approach. Rui Rodrigues of the Retail Council of Canada pointed to increasing aggression and violence towards retail staff, stating that retailers, police, prosecutors, and governments must work together. He urged the Ontario government to lead the creation of a provincially funded joint task force to address retail crime.

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Here in Toronto and across Canada, we are seeing clear and troubling trends: an increase in aggression and violence towards retail staff. Retailers cannot solve this alone and police can’t solve this alone. Prosecutors and governments cannot solve this alone. We need to work together as a community.