Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/1527945
FALL 2024 • THE ASSINIBOIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 15 continued from page 14 "Businesses have the right to deny entry. If someone is stealing from you, you have the right to ban that person. If they come in and refuse to leave, you have the right to call the police," he says. Prevention also includes the concept of "environmental design," where the layout of your business can discourage loss. "One example of environmental de- sign is having your counter at the front of the store - where you can monitor people going in and out - versus at the back of the store, where it's more diffi- cult to see who's coming in," he says. Prevention also includes security cameras and other technology. Protection is needed when some form of engagement occurs - when you're actively stopping something that's occurring right now. "Based on your business's policy and procedures, maybe your loss prevention officer (LPO) is stopping somebody from leaving the store with your goods, then you are stopping theft," he says. Theft is escalated to robbery when there is violence or violence is threat- ened, including a weapons threat or physical contact such as assault, push- ing or spitting. "If a robbery is occurring and you're calling the police, or using safety practises to protect yourself and your staff - physically stepping back out of arm's reach or even locking yourself in a different room to get away from the person - that is protection," he says. With prevention, you implement measures and policies so that you don't have to activate protective measures in the future. "But you still have to have protection protocols in place," he says, adding that the Winnipeg Police Service teaches both. Remillard says to stay on top of trends in how criminals target busi- nesses and know what they aim to take. Following news stories or business owners talking to each other about their experiences can be informative. It's necessary to do ongoing assess- ments to see where there is potential for loss (like a blind spot in a store lay- out) as well as after a loss has occurred to determine what led to the loss and how to remediate the situation for the future. Businesses could also work with private companies or the Winnipeg Police Service. "You should review incidents and document them and learn from them," he says. When it comes to crime prevention in the community at large - the data is in the details - which is why the Winni- peg Police Service strongly encourages private citizens and business owners to report all crime - even if it seems minor. "The Violent Crime and Retail Theft Initiative started because of the number of reports and the data we got. The Province and the service realized we had a problem and came together to address it," says Remillard. "Please report everything because our analysts will take those numbers and give them to our specialty unit to identify problems, so now, for example, we have beat officers in Osborne Village and in the Exchange because they were deemed hot spots," he says. However, Remillard explains that beat officers were added as part of a vi- olent crime and retail theft initiative to address issues in those areas, but their presence is only temporary and ends when the initiative is over. Staff and management training, access protocols, use of technology, communication and observation, environmental design, regular analyses of losses, and reporting to police are all fundamental to ensuring a business is doing everything possible to deter crime. "I would love to say we could get rid of crime absolutely, it's just the sad real- ity of the world - there's always going to be some kind of crime," says Constable Justin Remillard. "And as much as you use strategies for prevention, you also need to know how to protect yourself and make sure you're safe. Stuff can be replaced. A person can't be replaced. We want to make people sure that people are safe." To report a crime, follow the prompts at: winnipeg.ca/police/services/re- port-crime or call non-emergency 204-986-6222. The WPS has produced a video on crime prevention called Retail Theft Prevention at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Nmi_vCHRidU The Violent Crime and Retail Theft Initiative started because of the number of reports and the data we got. Constable Justin Remillard, Crime Prevention Officer, Winnipeg Police Service Thefts are a major area of concern for retailers. (Adobe Stock Photo)