Retailers question Windsor police decision to stop taking some retail theft reports | CBC News

The Retail Council of Canada is questioning a decision by Windsor, Ont., police to stop accepting retail theft reports from companies that won’t co-operate with criminal investigations.

At a board meeting last month, Windsor police Chief Jason Bellaire said the service is “looking to do more and better with our time.”

“We’re not going to be accepting any complaints that nobody wants to do anything about,” Bellaire said.

And while Windsor police tweeted Friday afternoon that they will still accept such complaints from people who call their retail theft co-ordinator, Bellaire previously said, “We’re not going to have someone just reporting 30 thefts from the week, on a Saturday, as a matter of filing their paperwork.

“We’re just not interested in dealing with that anymore.”

Rui Rodrigues of the Retail Council of Canada told CBC that Windsor police should be accepting all reports of theft, no exceptions.

“I would say Windsor police can’t make that call, and I say that frankly. Citizens have a right to report that crime and police have a right to receive that crime. That’s their duty.”

Retail theft has been a growing concern in many parts of Canada and the U.S. in recent years.

September statistics for Windsor police show a 3.6 per cent jump in theft compared to the same month last year. However, the statistics don’t specify how many of those are retail thefts.

In June, Windsor police reported 22 per cent of the overall number of thefts under $5,000 were related to shoplifting. The service said there’s one retailer reporting 30 per cent of those incidents, but has no interest in co-operating with police for prevention efforts.

Police haven’t publicly named that retailer.

WATCH | Why Windsor police no longer take certain theft reports from some retailers: 

New approach from Windsor police on retail theft sparks criticism

The Windsor Police Service won’t be accepting retail theft reports from businesses that don’t want to co-operate with a criminal investigation. Jason Viau explains the move, and why it’s prompting questions and criticism.

While Bellaire said the changes were coming, it appears they’ve already happened. On the Windsor police website, it won’t allow someone to report a retail theft via the provided form if there’s no interest in pressing charges or providing a witness statement.

Instead, it urges the respondent to contact the retail theft co-ordinator to book an in-person appointment. 

Bellaire hasn’t been available for media questions following the September and August board meetings. Windsor police also did not respond to subsequent email requests for an interview with Bellaire about these changes.

However, after this story was published, in a social media post on Friday afternoon, Windsor police appeared to contradict Bellaire’s earlier comments on how police are handling retail theft complaints from companies that don’t want to proceed with an investigation.

“Contrary to recent reports, the Windsor Police Service continues to accept ALL reports of retail theft,” the police service said.

The statement explained that on Sept. 24, changes were made to the online reporting tool but businesses that wish to report a theft but not pursue charges can contact the force’s retail theft co-ordinator by phone instead.

“This update allows businesses to continue reporting retail thefts through our online portal, while allowing our service to collect statistics more effectively and deploy our resources where they are needed most.”

CBC News is attempting to reach police for comment.

How other police services handle theft reports

By comparison, other police services in Ontario do things a bit differently.

Toronto police say they will accept reports of theft under $5,000 “whether or not the retailer has the desire to co-operate with any proceedings.”

But if they’re subpoenaed as a witness, they would be required to attend court.

Const. Steven Duguay, spokesperson with Essex County Ontario Provincial Police, said officers follow up on all online complaints and will use their discretion based on the wishes of the retailer.

“Retailers have the right to press charges or not and may simply want police reports for insurance purposes,” said Duguay.

An Ottawa police spokesperson said they accept theft reports from everyone, but won’t pursue them if the complainant isn’t co-operative.

Concerns underreporting will create statistics ‘bias’

The unwillingness for Windsor police to even accept retail theft reports, in some cases, will “bias the statistics of reported crimes,” according to Nathan Taback, a professor in the department of statistical sciences at the University of Toronto.

“What we might end up getting is an underestimate of the number of thefts in stores, and so that would have an impact on the accuracy of the data,” said Taback.

“To me, it would matter because then we wouldn’t really get an accurate portrayal of thefts in retail stores.”

The Retail Council of Canada agrees, saying accepting all reports of retail theft would give police the ability to know what’s happening and where.

“Police are there to take statements from the citizens they serve,” said Rodrigues. “Collaborating with police is critical and we’ve been doing an amazing job. If there’s a misunderstanding that’s happening, I’d like to get to the bottom of it.”