Retail Council says there is growing retail crime in Nova Scotia

The Halifax Regional Police launched a retail crime blitz last month.

The Retail Council of Canada says there is a growing amount of retail crime in Atlantic Canada, specifically in Halifax.

“The numbers are going through the roof,” says Jim Cormier, Atlantic director of the Retail Council of Canada. “Now we’re at a point where we’re realizing that, especially in cities like Halifax, we need more help.”

Cormier says perpetrators have become more sophisticated and calculated when carrying out these crimes.

“It’s not the kid stealing the candy bar, it’s not the single mom who’s desperate to feed her kids who might steal a loaf of bread. We’re talking about prolific, organized retail crime where people are coming in groups,” says Cormier. “They’re focusing on certain products where they know they can put them on the resale market very quickly and easily.”

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Halifax Regional Police says it seized more than 300 boxes and bags containing stolen merchandise, including clothing, toys, electronics, and other household items last month

The discovery was made following their “retail theft blitz,” an initiative supported by the Retail Council of Canada that involves retailers and police working together to combat retail crime.

It sends officers out into the community where retail crime is being reported.

“Our focus this year was to be highly focused during the holidays…and focus on areas where there was high retail theft,” Cst. Martin Cromwell, public information officer for Halifax Regional Police, told CTV News on Tuesday.

For business owners like Laura McNutt, having more police presence is a decades-old plea.

McNutt says her store Kings Pier Vintage has seen several theft attempts, including one in broad daylight.

“The bravado of criminals who know that there’s no consequence, that’s what’s particularly infuriating is that many shops give up and don’t even try to recover the merchandise or the money or whatever the loss is,” says McNutt.

She believes all merchants would benefit from having a regular police presence.

“I think that really matters. Because we are people and then police have a vested interest in taking care of us,” she says.

Cormier hopes the province will step in to tackle the growing issue.

“We have to do better,” says Cormier. “This is a vicious circle we’re caught into, and we need more help on this to address this increasingly difficult problem.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to continue this conversation and push for action at the provincial level, as well as at the municipal policing level.”

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