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RCC: Harnessing the Power of Information
A Changing Attitude: Loss Prevention
| Theft is costing Canadian retailers more than $3 billion a year. Retail organized crime — shoplifting, container theft, counterfeiting, refund fraud, and the use of fraudulent credit and debit cards — is currently at $40 billion annually in North America and growing. In 2005, 422,447 counterfeit bank notes were passed and seized in Canada. Container theft — theft from tractor trailers, trains or ships — is valued at $20 billion worldwide. IT theft and organized crime rings are becoming more common.
In short, the face of fraud is changing and changing the attitude of retailers toward retail crime is key to winning the battle. Over the next year, Canadian retailers will continue to make a concerted effort to work together to foil organized retail crime syndicates that cost us all. To that end, RCC's longstanding Loss Prevention Committee provides retailers with educational, information-sharing, and networking opportunities. In addition, this past year saw the official launch of the Retail Organized Crime Task Force, a major initiative to support Canadian retailers who want to work together to protect their businesses. Chaired by Rita Estwick, Manager, Corporate Security for Canada Post Corporation, who has been seconded to Retail Council of Canada for a one-year term to focus on retail organized crime, this volunteer-driven committee educates and advocates proactive asset protection strategies to the retail industry. The task force conducts research into criminal activity and loss prevention practices, and develops tools and collaborative relationships with key industry stakeholders to help retailers secure their stores. One of the most significant tools retailers can expect from the task force in the near future is a Web-based information sharing network. The network, which has been |
developed to be fully compliant with privacy regulations, allows retailers to report on criminal events in their stores. Over time, retailers will be able to identify patterns in criminal activity, develop innovative responses to retail organized crime, and better protect their stores, employees and customers. The annual Retail Loss Prevention (LP) Conference in September has become a major focal point for LP professionals, with the 2006 conference surpassing attendance expectations. It's the one time when retailers from across Canada can come together to talk about common concerns and promote LP as a major issue to retail executives. Last year, the national conference was supplemented by a series of regional conferences that focused on the unique challenges LP professionals face in their respective jurisdictions. |
