September 12, 2026 by Anas Mustafa
Police reported 208,941 incidents of shoplifting of $5,000 or under across Canada in 2025. According to Statistics Canada, the rate reached 502 incidents per 100,000 population, an 11% increase from 2024 and the fifth consecutive annual increase.
For retailers, those numbers provide a reason to review how well their stores are protected. A practical retail security strategy can combine surveillance and monitored security with good store visibility, employee awareness and clear procedures for handling incidents. Each measure plays a different role, so protection is strongest when the pieces work together.
Statistics Canada’s 2025 police-reported crime statistics show 208,941 reported incidents, compared with 185,799 in 2024. The rate rose from 450 to 502 incidents per 100,000 population.
| Year | Shoplifting rate per 100,000 | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 280 | Starting point for 10-year comparison |
| 2024 | 450 | 185,799 reported incidents |
| 2025 | 502 | 208,941 incidents, rate up 11% from 2024 |
The 2025 police-reported rate was 79% higher than in 2015 and had increased for five consecutive years from 2020. These figures reflect incidents classified by police and reported through the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, not every instance of shoplifting. Statistics Canada also notes that online reporting may have contributed to the increase in police-reported incidents. Shoplifting is collected as a distinct violation for statistical reporting, although it falls within the broader offence of theft under the Criminal Code.
No camera, alarm or employee procedure can guarantee that retail theft won’t occur. A 40-year systematic review of CCTV and crime prevention found that cameras were associated with a modest decrease in crime and produced stronger effects when combined with other measures, although results varied by setting. Retailers can therefore use cameras as one part of a layered approach that improves visibility, supports deterrence and makes it easier to respond when an incident happens.
Camera placement should reflect how people move through your store. Entrances, exits, checkout areas and sections with valuable merchandise may require particular attention, while shelving and fixtures should be reviewed for unnecessary blind spots.
Retailers should also account for applicable privacy laws when planning camera coverage. Federal guidance for private-sector video surveillance recommends limiting each camera’s viewing range, posting clear notice, restricting access to recordings and retaining footage only as long as needed for the stated business purpose.
At Canadian Security Professionals (CSP), our business video monitoring options can include indoor, outdoor and doorbell Wi-Fi cameras. Depending on the camera and package, available features can include event images, cloud video clip storage, person, vehicle or animal detection and optional 24/7 onboard recording.
Visible cameras, alarm components and appropriate security signage can contribute to deterrence by making security measures easy to notice. They work best alongside attentive staff and a store layout that supports clear sightlines.
Our Secure business package includes a visual deterrence package as part of its monitored alarm and intrusion protection.
Store design can make some merchandise and customer areas harder for employees to observe. Review shelving, displays, checkout positioning and high-value product placement to identify areas where visibility could be improved.
Camera coverage can then supplement what employees can see during normal operations and help cover predictable gaps.
Shoplifting during operating hours and unauthorized access after closing are different risks. A broader retail security plan should account for both, including after-hours business security when the store is unoccupied.
Our business security options include door sensors, motion or glass-break sensors, security keypads, backup batteries and 24/7 professional monitoring. We use dedicated cellular connections for alarm communication, so monitoring doesn’t depend on a business phone or internet connection. Retailers can review the available business security packages to explore configurable options for their premises.
Security information is more useful when the right people can access it promptly. Our Smart Secure features include app and web access, smartphone, email and text notifications, remote arming and disarming, and a 24/7 activity log.
Notifications can also be configured for multiple authorized users, which can help businesses where several managers share security responsibilities.
Technology needs to be supported by clear employee procedures. Canadian workplace-violence prevention guidance recommends training employees on how to respond to confrontational interactions, how to exit or de-escalate them safely and when to contact security or police. Staff should also understand which shoplifting-related circumstances warrant attention, who should be notified and how concerns should be handled according to company policy.
Attentive customer service and a visible employee presence can also improve awareness throughout the sales floor. Employee and customer safety should remain the priority rather than physically confronting a suspected shoplifter.
Employees shouldn’t have to invent a response during an incident. Establish procedures for notifying the appropriate person, documenting useful details, preserving available video footage and escalating the matter according to company policy.
Afterward, review what happened. An incident may reveal a recurring problem involving merchandise placement, surveillance coverage, store visibility or existing procedures.
Retail stores differ in layout, hours, staffing, merchandise and access points. The right system should reflect the specific premises rather than include technology simply because it’s available.
Our current customizable packages range from monitored intrusion protection to smart controls and video security:
| Package | Key security features |
|---|---|
| Secure | Monitored alarm system, door and motion or glass-break sensors, visual deterrence |
| Smart Secure | Secure features plus app access, alerts, remote controls and activity log |
| Smart Secure + Video | Smart Secure plus a Wi-Fi camera, event images and cloud video clip storage |
| Smart Secure Protect+ | Expanded video, deterrence and environmental protection options |
You can review our business security packages and discuss which combination of cameras, sensors, monitoring and smart controls fits your store.
With Canada’s police-reported shoplifting rate up 11% from 2024 and 79% from 2015, retailers have good reason to reassess their current protection. Effective security isn’t about relying on one device. Store visibility, employee awareness, documented response procedures and properly selected security technology all have a role.
We offer customizable business security options for retailers evaluating monitored alarms, cameras and smart security management.
Reach out to Canadian Security Professionals today at 1-877-494-9911, email us at info@cspalarms.ca or use our online contact form.
Statistics Canada reported that the rate of police-reported shoplifting of $5,000 or under increased 11% from 2024 to 2025, reaching 502 incidents per 100,000 population. The 2025 rate was 79% higher than it was in 2015.
Security cameras can support monitoring, deterrence, incident review and video documentation, but they don’t guarantee that theft will be prevented. Coverage should reflect your store’s layout, important merchandise areas, entrances, exits and other locations you want to monitor.
We offer business video security options with indoor, outdoor and other camera configurations depending on the selected package and system.
The appropriate products depend on the store’s layout, operating practices, access points and security concerns. Options may include security cameras, intrusion sensors, monitored alarm systems, smart alerts, remote management and video recording.
Rather than selecting each product in isolation, consider how the components can work together as an integrated system.
Employees should follow their employer’s established procedures and prioritize the safety of customers and staff. They should know who to notify, what relevant information to document and how available video or incident details should be preserved according to company policy.
Employees shouldn’t be encouraged to physically confront suspected shoplifters, and individual retailers should establish procedures appropriate for their own operations.
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