Theft, counterfeiting, organized retail crime — these are issues facing Canadian retailers of all sizes, with the RCMP estimating that organized crime alone costs retailers $5 billion a year. We've assembled some tools, tips and articles to help you protect your assets.

Canadian Retailer: Loss Prevention (All files in .PDF form; Adobe Acrobat required to read them.) Forget flashy strategies and in-your-face tactics Together, Waldron and Tapley oversee the four-member Loss Prevention department at Toronto-based Danier Leather Inc. He's the director, she's the manager and in the past five years they have chopped shrink at the 91-store chain from 1.02 per cent of annual revenues to less than 0.5 per cent — good enough to save their employer some $800,000 annually and earn Danier a 2007 Excellence in Retailing Award from Retail Council of Canada. Out of the Fitting Rooms, into the Profits When people talk shrink in fitting rooms, it's not about the quality or the sizing of the clothing. For the likes of Le Château, whose biggest outlet store in Montreal has 20 fitting rooms — and a demographic that's high on the radar screen for theft — this area of inventory shrink is one that deserved some extra attention. More Articles Retailer's Guides The Retailer's Guides are a series of informational brochures produced by Retail Council of Canada with the independent retailer in mind. Beating Shoplifters at their Game A large part of the loss prevention game is deterrence. Creating an environment that tells thieves "You're not welcome" is the first and most important part of protecting your store. More Retailer's Guides Loss Prevention Newsletter Loss Prevention Newsletter — May 2007 ROC Task Force on the case Earlier this year, Retail Council of Canada, in a joint partnership with Canada Post Corporation, formed the Retail Organized Crime (ROC) Task Force. More LP Newsletters Education Solutions Winning Retail 2nd Edition (Source: Industry Canada/The Graff Retail Group) Chapter 10: Loss Prevention What you will Learn Why control of shrinkage is so important to successful retailing. How to measure shrink. The different types of shrinkage. Benchmark statistics to use in assessing your store. How to perform a physical inventory. How to reduce shrink. > Members Only: Retail Business Security Self Assessment Though we all wish it were not so, the fact is theft and fraud are issues that retailers across Canada must wrestle with every day.   A recent poll of independent retailers conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Retail Council of Canada and RBC confirms this, with 87 per cent of Canada's small and medium-sized retail business owners reporting they have been victimized by retail crime within the past year.   It's an unfortunate reality, but one that must be dealt with in order to promote a prosperous business climate for the thousands of retailers that make up our industry.   Retail Council of Canada has long been an advocate for retailers on the loss prevention front, campaigning on behalf of retailers who want to move beyond just talking about loss prevention to doing something about it.   That is why Retail Council of Canada is proud to collaborate with RBC in presenting these best practices, developed with the independent retailer in mind. Retailers have told us about the loss prevention issues that matter most to them, and it is our hope that the following pages will better prepare those retailers and help prevent future incidents involving their people and their property. Canadian Retail Security Survey 2007 This year's survey confirms that Canadian retailers face a broad spectrum of criminal elements stretching security measures to their limits. Traditional theft areas such as break and enter, and counterfeiting are still prevalent, while technology theft is impacting retail crimes. Technology based thefts include pin pad tampering and credit card fraud, and are largely associated with organized criminal activities. In fact, the 2007 Criminal Intelligence Service Report identifies financial crimes as being one of the socio-economic harms of organized crime in Canada. > Bank Note Security And Other Forms Of Payment Fraud A kit containing most of the Bank of Canada's printed materials, suitable for managers and trainers. Includes a booklet; sticker; poster; deterrence signage; information on U.S. bank notes; "Fighting fraud" fact sheets and DVD on bank note counterfeiting, credit and debit card fraud, cheque and money order fraud, and identity theft. > To order, please call (888) 513-8212 or visit the Bank of Canada's Web site at: www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes/education/index_retailer.html. > Trousse d'information sur la sécurité des billets de banque et autres types de fraude de paiement Trousse contenant la plupart des documents imprimés de la Banque du Canada, utile pour les gestionnaires et les formateurs. Elle comprend un livret, un autocollant, une affiche, des enseignes de dissuasion et de l'information sur les billets de banque américains, ainsi que des fiches de renseignements et le DVD Échec à la fraude traitant de la contrefaçon de billets de banque, de la fraude par carte de crédit et de débit, de l'utilisation frauduleuse de chèques et de mandats et du vol d'identité. > Pour commander, veuillez composer le 1 888 513-8212 ou visiter le site Internet de la Banque du Canada, à l'adresse : www.banqueducanada.ca/fr/billets/education/index_detaillant.html. Supplier Directory: Loss Prevention Services Are you looking for better ways to protect your business and employees? Check out RCC's Supplier Directory, a list of RCC associate members that are ready to provide you with products and services that can help you make the most of your design budget. Are you a supplier interested in being listed in RCC's directory? By joining RCC as an associate member, you not only get a free listing, but you have full access to RCC's Members-only Web site and other key resources. Click here for more information on becoming a member. Members-Only Cost-Savings Programs Interac Association Merchant Education Tool Kit — Merchants have an important role to play in helping to combat debit card fraud and Acquirers and payment service providers can assist by providing them with information and advice. The materials in the Merchant Education Tool Kit are in ready-to-use pieces in PDF that can be printed or emailed to your customers and, to cut-and-paste/adapt into your proprietary communications to customers. COUNTERFEIT DETECTORS & CASH COUNTING SYSTEMS with Gemsys — Gemsys' comprehensive product line of currency, coin and counterfeit detectors are fully supported by a team of field service technicians. Gemsys prides itself on providing clients with cost-effective solutions in cash automation. Members can purchase the Omega 2000 Complete Money Manager for only $1,395 for Members (regular price $1,595) and the IRD-150 counterfeit detector for only $250 (regular price $275). SECURITY SERVICES with Group 4 Securicor — G4S Cash Services is Canada's leading provider of cash services with more than 50 locations across the country. As the largest worldwide security services provider, they are in a unique position to manage all of your security requirements. RCC Members receive 10% off new contracts. More Cost-Savings Programs Canadian Retail Institute (CRI) Are you looking for tools to help your sales associates better understand the art of creating an exciting store layout? RCC offers a Sales Associate training program and Module 6 covers just this subject. If you'd like more information on just this module or the entire training program, visit the Canadian Retail Institute (CRI) or contact our education department at (888) 373-8245; e-mail: certification@retailcouncil.org.