West Winnipeg Business Review | Fall 2024

ASSINIBOIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BUSINESS SECURITY & CRIME PREVENTION

Prevention and Protection: Retail Theft and

the Winnipeg Police Service

By Wendy King L oss crimes can make it tough for businesses to maintain their margins. Loss crimes are the kind of black mark that can put a ledger in the red. Constable Justin Remillard says there are strategies that can help reduce those losses and keep staff safer. A 17-year veteran of the Winnipeg Police Service, he specializes as a crime prevention officer trained in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design from the National Institute of Crime Prevention. To start, understand that prevention and protection are two different things. He explains that prevention is proactive. It’s taking measures to discourage ongoing crime or prevent it from happening in the future. “Say the business is trying to reduce theft - preven- tion could be locking up high-end items behind the counter,” he says. One often overlooked measure is to control access to the premises. continued on page 15

(Adobe Stock Photo)

14 THE ASSINIBOIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • FALL 2024

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