Peel Police Hosts Successful Retail Organized Crime Conference

What happens when police, retailers, industry leaders, and government partners from across the province come together with a common purpose?

From October 6 to 7, Peel Regional Police hosted one of country’s leading conversations on organized retail crime, bringing together nearly 60 police services, retailers, industry experts, government officials, and community partners committed to tackling a growing and increasingly complex challenge.

The message throughout the conference was clear: organized retail crime is not just an issue retailers face; it’s a serious public safety issue.

What is often dismissed as "shoplifting" has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise driven by organized networks that operate across jurisdictions, target multiple retailers, and generate significant profits. Addressing it requires more than enforcement. It demands collaboration, intelligence sharing, innovation, and a unified response.

Over two days, attendees exchanged ideas, explored emerging trends, shared investigative strategies, and discussed practical solutions to disrupt offenders and strengthen partnerships. The conversations highlighted the value of bringing together those who see different sides of the issue but share the same goal: safer communities.

Simultaneously, Peel Regional Police announced its ongoing commitment to addressing organized retail crime through proactive initiatives, including the expansion of its Break and Enter, Auto and Retail (BEAR) Unit across Peel Region in 2027 as well as a renewed commitment to its partnership with the Retail Council of Canada and ongoing retail blitzes.

The strong turnout at the conference demonstrates a growing recognition that organized retail crime knows no boundaries - and neither should the partnerships needed to stop it.

As the conference has come to a close, the relationships built, lessons shared, and momentum created over the past two days will continue to inform our collective efforts to disrupt organized retail crime, protect businesses, and enhance community safety in the places we serve.

Are you a business owner and want to know how you can play a part?

Learn more at the links below.