Shop Theft Program & Personal InjuryUncategorizedNovember 28, 2018A pilot program called Shop Theft will be implemented in two divisions in Toronto in an attempt to reduce police workload in response to frequent low-priority calls. The shop theft program will run for a 6 month period and if successful will be implemented city wide. Privately employed theft prevention officers will now be allowed to release an accused shoplifter once details of the incident are sent in to the police. Sometime accused shoplifters can be left waiting for police to arrive for several hours. During the shop theft program, first-time non-violent shoplifters will no longer be prosecuted as long as they they are 18 years of age or older, are accused of stealing items with a value of less than $1,000, and have identification. The police however, still reserve the right to lay a charge at a future date, by summons. During the shop theft program, “the new procedures could lead to an increase in the number of accused shoplifters”. While shoplifting is a large issue in the retail business and private loss prevention officers can be an efficient way for your business to protect your property, personal injury claims can arise. The more shoplifters that are accused, the more chances there are for incidents that can cause a claim. Personal injury lawsuits can come from acts such as defamation, libel, slander, false imprisonment, emotional distress, etc. As a retail business owner, it would be a good time to revisit your legal rights and business insurance policy. Lawsuits for personal injury can be devastating for your business, make sure you understand what coverages are available to you. To speak to a knowledgeable insurance broker to find out if you have adequate coverage for your business, call us at (416) 494-1268 or email us at info@pacins.ca.