Maritime businesses report rise in theft despite mixed official data

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says shoplifting is on the rise.

Business owners across Atlantic Canada say theft and disorder around their storefronts are increasing, even as official statistics present a more mixed picture.

New survey data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) suggests many of its members are experiencing more incidents of crime, including shoplifting and disruptive behaviour, in and around their businesses.

“Business owners do have a lived experience within their communities,” said Louis-Philippe Gautier, the organization’s vice-president for Atlantic Canada. “What they’re reporting, at least, is a reality where they’re seeing an increase.”

The findings contrast, in some cases, with police-reported data, Gautier said, but he added that underreporting may be playing a role.

“If they’re not reported, they don’t show up in the stats, and if they don’t show up in the stats, then it’s a harder conversation with law enforcement authorities and municipalities about where to attribute resources,” he said.

Gautier said some business owners have grown frustrated and no longer report incidents, believing it will not make a difference.

The survey found regional differences across Atlantic Canada. Nova Scotia ranked lower than most provinces when it comes to the number of business owners who consider crime a serious concern, while New Brunswick ranked higher. Prince Edward Island was also among the lower-ranked provinces.

Still, Gautier said concerns remain widespread across the region and the country.

“We’re seeing it in HRM, we’re seeing it across Atlantic Canada and across the country, that it is still there very much so as a concern,” he said.

In downtown Dartmouth, however, Tim Rissesco, executive director of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission, said the situation has improved compared to the years immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic. He said there was a noticeable spike in theft during that period, which has since eased.

“As we were coming out of COVID, there was a greater number of people that maybe were homeless or a little bit more desperate,” Rissesco said. “So we did have some people running into stores and taking things. We don’t see that so much anymore.”

He attributed the decline in part to changes made by businesses, including increased staffing and added security measures such as guards at store entrances.

Rissesco also pointed to a shift in the types of businesses operating in the area, with more restaurants and fewer retail shops, which may also be contributing to fewer theft incidents.

“Knock on wood, it’s been a pretty good winter,” he said.

Despite some local improvements, Gautier said theft continues to take a toll on businesses beyond financial losses.

“You get multiple incidents of disorderliness. You get multiple issues of not feeling safe,” he said. “That all starts wearing thin, not only on the employers, but on the employees themselves and their customers.”

He said some employees have left jobs due to safety concerns, while customers may avoid certain areas altogether.

The organization is calling for a range of responses, including better support for businesses and changes at the federal level aimed at repeat offenders, such as bail reform.

“There has to be some form of bail reform in the country that will address the repeat offenders that are causing issues on main streets or in rural areas across Atlantic Canada,” Gautier said.

Updated crime data from Statistics Canada is expected in the coming months, which could provide a clearer picture of the scope of theft across the region.