Since the pandemic began in March 2020, we have witnessed a significant rise in all forms of theft. From construction to commercial properties, all industries are feeling the full effect of this increasing threat.
Theft is on the rise in Canada!
Catalytic converter theft(1), raw material theft(2), tool & equipment theft(3), and other forms of commercial theft have all been reportedly increasing over the last few years. There are a multitude of reasons to why this trend in theft is occurring, and many attribute the cause to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although restriction mandates are lifting all across the world, our economy and general lifestyles are still feeling ongoing effects caused by the now 2 yearlong battle with COVID-19.
A major contributor to the rise in theft in Canada is the 2 million citizens who unfortunately lost their jobs in the beginning of the pandemic(4), and the additional 200,000 who lost their jobs amidst the Omicron wave that occurred in January 2022(5). Also stemming from the pandemic, inflation is a more recent factor for the increase in theft on commercial properties, & from businesses as a whole.
COVID-19 disruptions to supply chains, wide spread droughts(6), and a major spike in gas prices have all contributed to aggressive inflation, bringing the cost of living for Canadians to an all-time high. Inflation affects the spending habits of all Canadians, and this pushes criminals to work overtime to obtain goods & materials that are in such high demand.
The price of raw materials have increased considerably over the last few years, resulting in a boom in construction site theft. An example of this occurred on May 11th 2022 in Alberta, when a 47 year old male was arrested with a trunkful of stolen plywood that was stolen from of an unknown construction site(7).
The rising value of raw materials & precious metals has also lead to a serious catalytic converter theft problem across a variety of locations such as Auto Dealerships, Distribution Centres, and Commercial Properties. Within the last year, we have seen a 450% increase(8) in these types of thefts. For example, on Dec 23rd, 2021, a Saskatoon business owner rushed to his business after hearing troubling reports of catalytic converter thefts in the area.
When he arrived to check on his company truck, he realized that he was too late; the converter was already stolen. After reviewing video footage taken on his CCTV surveillance system, he saw the suspect crawl under his vehicle and steal the highly valuable part(9). Brazen thefts like this are occurring daily across Canada, and they are becoming more and more common.
How do we prevent theft on your property?
Our industry leading proactive security services are focused on detecting and deterring unwanted behaviour before it turns criminal. Our Logistics Team works closely with our clients identifying areas of importance & those that are vulnerable to theft; building a plan to strategically install our units to provide perimeter coverage, and ample view of the areas needing the most protection.
Each unit comes equipped with both high resolution stationary cameras and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras that are capable of capturing specific details of assailants & events. When our Video Monitoring Operators identify a suspect on site, they proactively deter the suspect by utilizing various security peripherals. Voice commands are issued from our live communication speakers to inform the suspect that they are on an off-limits site, and that all of their actions are being recorded and will be reported to the Police.
For a visual deterrence, our Operators will activate our highly visible blue LED strobe light – as would-be thieves typically prefer to work inconspicuously. If the theft cannot be deterred, our Monitoring Team immediately dispatches local Law Enforcement and provides them with critical details, such as the description of the suspect, location, behavior, and any other information to assist in their apprehension.
As the Police are arriving to the scene, our Operators will continue to monitor the site and collect as many details as possible to further assist in the arrest of the suspect. When the threat is contained, our team compiles all of the details of the event into an in-depth report that is accessible through our proprietary security information reporting platform, syncroReports.
There is no question that theft is becoming a major issue for Canadian businesses, and installing the proper security measures to prevent these types of crimes is imperative. Our innovative video & alarm monitoring services are the ideal solution for keeping your property and assets secure from would-be thieves.
Resources:
- “Catalytic converter thefts on the rise in Saskatchewan in 2022” Global News, Matthew Rodrigopulle, May 10th 2022
- “It is a gold mine: Builders warned of rising lumber thefts across Canada” CTV News, Daniela Germano, May 12th, 2021
- “The harsh reality of construction equipment theft – and what you can do about it” Northbridge Insurance
- “Canada lost nearly 2 million jobs in April amid COVID-10 crisis: Statistics Canada” CBC News, May 8th, 2020
- “Canada Lost 200,000 jobs in January as Omicron hit hard” CBC News, Pete Evans, February 4th, 2022
- “Inflation In Canada: Causes and cures” CUPE, December 8th 2021
- “Innisfail RCMP seize suspected stolen plywood, taken from unknown construction site, following collision with police vehicle” Canada Police Report, May 12, 2022
- “Catalytic Converter thefts up 450% over last year, Manitoba Public Insurance says” CBC News
- “Catalytic converter thefts last year led to $1.28 million in SGI claims” Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Thia James, February 5th, 2022.