Loss Prevention

Loss prevention security protects your merchandise, assets, and revenue at retail events, trade shows, pop-up shops, and commercial venues across Canada. Our trained officers deter theft through visible presence and detect shoplifting through surveillance and behavioural analysis. With retail shrinkage costing Canadian businesses over $5 billion annually, professional loss prevention is not an expense — it is an investment that pays for itself.

The Scale of Retail Theft in Canada

According to the Retail Council of Canada, the average Canadian retailer loses 1.4% of gross sales to shrinkage. For a business doing $2 million in annual revenue, that is $28,000 lost — far more than the cost of professional loss prevention coverage. Trade shows and pop-up retail events are particularly vulnerable because they operate in unfamiliar environments without established security infrastructure.

Our Approach

CrowdControl.ca connects you with loss prevention specialists who use a layered deterrence strategy:

• •Plainclothes officers who blend with customers to identify theft in progress — trained in behavioural indicators such as selective attention, concealment movements, and counter-surveillance
• •Uniformed presence at exits and high-value areas for visible deterrence — studies show uniformed guards reduce theft by 40-60% at retail events
• •CCTV monitoring and coordination with existing security cameras
• •Incident documentation with evidence preservation following chain-of-custody protocols for prosecution
• •Employee awareness training to reduce internal shrinkage — which accounts for approximately 30% of all retail loss
• •Asset tagging and inventory control recommendations for high-value merchandise

Legal Framework

Loss prevention officers in Canada operate under citizen's arrest provisions (Section 494, Criminal Code). They can detain individuals caught committing theft on the premises but must follow strict protocols regarding reasonable force, duration of detention, and immediate transfer to police. All officers in our network are trained in these legal requirements and carry errors and omissions insurance.

Trade Show and Event Coverage

Trade shows present unique loss prevention challenges: high-value products on open display, thousands of strangers passing through, and limited sightlines. Our teams provide:

• •Booth surveillance during show hours
• •After-hours security when exhibitors leave products on display overnight
• •Load-in and load-out protection — the highest-risk periods for theft

Pricing

Protect your next trade show or retail event — request a quote today.