Maze Security Insights · January 30, 2026
Retail Loss Prevention Strategies That Actually Move the Needle
Shrinkage is climbing across Canadian retail. These are the controls — human and procedural — that bring it back down.
The shrinking margin problem
Retail Council of Canada reporting shows shrinkage climbing year over year, driven by organized retail crime, opportunistic theft and internal loss. For most stores, a one-point reduction in shrink flows directly to profit.
People beat technology alone
Cameras and EAS tags record theft; trained people prevent it. Plain-clothes loss prevention officers identify behaviours before the act, while uniformed greeters at entrances measurably reduce walk-in theft. The most effective programs pair both.
Don't ignore internal loss
Employee theft and process failures account for a major share of shrink. Refund controls, exception reporting at the point of sale, and receiving-area oversight close gaps that floor guards never see.