Retail Theft Pilot Project Shows City-Wide Impact

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 26, 2026     11:50 a.m.

(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service's Retail Theft Pilot Project has demonstrated significant success in its first two months, driving a high rate of criminal charges and relieving pressure on secondary investigative units across the city.

Launched on April 1, 2026, the pilot project was designed to target repeat offenders and commercial shoplifting. While the initiative primarily focuses on enforcement within the downtown CORE, data reveals that its positive effects are being felt city-wide, tracking criminal activity across a 40-kilometre span from East to West.

Key Statistics & Impact

• 279 Total Cases Handled: Investigators identified and managed nearly 300 unique general occurrences tied directly to the pilot project between April 1 and early June.
• 80% Clearance Rate: Of the 279 files, 221 cases (79.2%) have been cleared with charges, marking an exceptionally high success rate for retail theft investigations.
• City-Wide Reach: The project impacted 30 unique commercial addresses across Ottawa, including major malls, shopping plazas, and multi-unit commercial properties.
• Downtown Concentration: The downtown CORE accounted for 211 cases (75.6%) of the project's total volume.

As Central District Inspector, Cory Robertson, explains, “The analysis shows a significant number of incidents are clustered within a small number of high-volume retail locations in the downtown core. This concentration allows our investigators to identify repeat offenders quickly and connect cases across multiple businesses and areas. This targeted enforcement benefits all retailers not just the major chains.”

By linking cases originating in the downtown CORE to retail crimes committed in outer divisions, the pilot project has successfully removed a large volume of files from the queues of other specialized teams. This streamlined approach ensures faster cross-city tracking of prolific retail thieves while freeing up vital frontline and investigative resources.

Ongoing Retail Theft & Diversion Programs

Retail theft and enforcement are ongoing throughout the year. In some instances, the Adult Pre-Charge Diversion (APCD)Unit redirects individuals charged with minor offences away from the criminal justice system and towards programs and support services.

The goal of the APCD program is to address the reason(s) why individuals commit an offence in the first place, while holding them accountable for their actions. This program also considers the victim’s needs and wishes regarding the incident.

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Through the Community Safety Data portal data.ottawapolice.ca, members of the public can view, download, and interact with data released by the Ottawa Police Service.

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CONTACT: 
Ottawa Police Service Media Relations
Tel: 613-236-1222, ext.  5366

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