Shoplifting is no longer just a petty theft here and there: in Quebec and across Canada, it represents a structural threat to businesses, and the phenomenon is only getting worse. For grocery stores and pharmacies, certain products have become prime targets - and that's where it gets serious.
Alarming statistics confirm the trend
Nationally, according to Statistics Canada, police recorded 182,361 shoplifting incidents of $5,000 or less in 2024, representing a rate of 442 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants. This is a 14% increase compared to 2023, and a 66% increase since 2014. Statistics Canada+2Statistics Canada+2
In Quebec, some media outlets are reporting a 41% increase in shoplifting in Sûreté du Québec territory in a single year, from 1,905 to 2,695 cases between 2022 and 2023. Le Journal de Montréal
Another source estimates the annual loss to Quebec at $1.8 billion by 2023. Quebec detail
These figures show an increase not only in volume, but also in severity: every business, from the small local grocery store to the chain pharmacy, is affected.
Most stolen products: beware, it stings on the shelves
Food stores are particularly targeted. Studies show that meat and dairy products (cheese, etc.) are among the most frequently stolen items in grocery stores. Global News+1
Shrimp, high-end seafood products andalcohol are also targeted - goods that are both expensive and easy to resell.
In pharmacies or cosmetics sections, perfumes and high-end beauty products are also targets: small, discreet, with high added value, they circulate quickly.
This reality carries a heavy weight: a business can lose $2,000 to $5,000 worth of stolen goods per week, according to some Canadian reports. Retail Insider+1
Why the increase?
Several factors converge: high inflation, which creates economic tensions among consumers; a sometimes reduced workforce in shops, and therefore less surveillance; organized thefts with several individuals simultaneously targeting several products; and finally, rapid resale via online platforms or in the parallel economy.
Grocery and pharmacy stores are particularly vulnerable because they combine high-margin products, high turnover, direct public access, and often fewer visible protective devices.
What's next? Taking action, yes - but with trusted partners
At CS Security, we understand that this reality is not just a "cost of doing business", but a strategic issue for all Quebec businesses. That's why we offer complete solutions, tailored to grocery stores, pharmacies and retail outlets - in Terrebonne, Laval, Montreal or anywhere in Quebec.
Thanks to our team of experienced technicians and modern technologies, we can move quickly to install, optimize and monitor the systems needed to protect your most sensitive departments.
