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Shoplifting can net Calgary criminals up to $15K a day: police

Calgary police and retailers are joining forces to combat organized retail crime, that drops tens of thousands of dollars into the drug trade every single day.

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"It is a growing problem in Calgary and Canada as a whole, costing Canadian retailers an estimated $4.6 billion each year," Calgary police Cst. Andrew Critchley said at a news conference Wednesday.

The money goes directly to the drug trade, Critchley said, and the dollar amounts in Calgary can be massive.

"We have identified people that can steal up to $10,000 to $15,000 a day, six or seven days a week."

The general manager of loss prevention with London Drugs says higher prices are only one consequence.

"It's not just a matter of dollars though," Tony Hunt said.

"Organized retail theft impacts the safety and security of our employees and of the public. Often incidents involve some type of threat or violence to staff. The stolen merchandise these criminals steal and traffic is often stored in poor conditions and when resold can pose a health risk to unsuspecting consumers," he said.

Police say the public can help by buying from reputable retailers and questioning the cost of something if it's far less than market value and then reporting it to police.

Calgary police's organized retail crime team has been in place for two years.