Toronto’s Non-Violent 1st Time Shoplifters Under $1k NOT Prosecuted
Toronto Canada December 3 2018
This year, Toronto had 16,667 shoplifting incidents reported to Toronto police as of Oct. 30. Up 51% from 2014.
First-time shoplifters will no longer be prosecuted in two of Toronto’s busiest police divisions as part of a six-month pilot project that, if successful, will go citywide.
The program – called Shop Theft – allows privately employed theft prevention officers to release an accused non-violent shoplifter after the details of the incident are called in to a division, as opposed to waiting – sometimes for hours – for police to answer the low-priority calls. As long as they meet certain criteria – they must be 18 years of age or older, the items they are accused of stealing are worth less than $1,000 and they have identification.
Accused shoplifters who are released through Shop Theft won’t be charged, although police reserve the right to later.
The new procedures could lead to an increase in the number of accused shoplifters, says a U.S. academic, and to the increased use of a controversial practice by retailers called civil demand recovery letters, which threaten legal action if the accused doesn’t pay hundreds of dollars in punitive damages, even when the items are retrieved.
Peel Regional police have run a shop theft release program with large chain retailers since 1997. The program has been a success, says Sgt. Mike Lockington, who is in charge of crime prevention for Peel Regional police.
“It’s great for the stores because they gain efficiencies,” he says. “They’re able to have faster turnover, so their loss prevention officers are able to get back on the floor, protecting the property in their retail store.” “The less of a drain on resources for police the better and the same for the retailers.” thestar.com
