Toronto Crime Stoppers is offering an enhanced $500 reward for tips while launching an Organized Retail Theft and Illicit Trade Awareness Campaign.
Tips received between March 7 and June 6 will be eligible for the reward.
“What has become increasingly clear is that this is no longer shoplifting,” Toronto Crime Stoppers Chair Sean Sportun said at Friday’s campaign launch in tandem with Toronto Police at their headquarters.
“It is a highly organized operation with offenders specifically targeting retailers and executing specific plans to steal merchandise,” he said. “Beyond the financial impact, the violence associated with these crimes is deeply concerning.”
“These offenders are not afraid to introduce violence amongst innocent employees and customers who get in their way. Recent brazen daylight jewelry store smash and grab style thefts are a clear example of this escalating violence,” Sportun added.
Sportun said since Crime Stoppers Toronto’s last campaign on this issue in 2023, retail theft has grown from $5 billion to “a staggering $9.1 billion retail crisis for Canadian retailers annually as estimated by the Retail Council of Canada in a recent media report.”
In late 2024, the Retail Crime Unit was created operating out of 23 Division, overseen by Toronto Police Det.-Sgt. Brent Swackhamer.
He said that unit consists of four officers from the same office, which acts as a single point of contact for affected retailers.
“This unit will help us focus on repeat offenders who are clearly causing a significant strain on both law enforcement and businesses,” said Swackhamer.
He said in just 95 days of operation, the unit saw 425 reports filed – an average of 4.5 reports daily – totaling $190,876 in stolen goods.
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Swackhamer said they have so far recovered $8,343 in stolen goods, made 45 arrests with 17 more sought on arrest warrants, cleared 177 occurrences across multiple divisions, and laid 477 charges.
“These offenders target multiple retail outlets including large chains such as the LCBO, Costco, Walmart, and The Home Depot, among others,” he said.
“Many retail thefts are linked to larger organized crime operations, so tackling this is a key part of addressing retail crime,” Swackhamer said. “We’re also using our partnerships with Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General to ensure that repeat offenders either remain in custody or face strict conditions upon release.”
To learn more about the campaign visit ItCostsUsAll.com and to report a crime anonymously to Toronto Crime Stoppers call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).