While organized theft rings occur primarily in large urban centers, stolen merchandise is often shipped to other locations for sale. During the investigation that led to Nova Scotia's Bill 30, police and retail investigators determined that merchandise stolen in the GTA was being shipped to the Halifax area for distribution at flea markets. Retailers recognize their responsibility to do what they can to prevent thefts. Once the product is stolen however, retailers have fewer tools at their disposal. Government action is required to close the markets for merchandise when it is stolen from retailers.
Flea markets are just one such market.
As in Bill 30, Ontario's legislation should mandate proof of acquisition to prevent the sale of stolen product, and to determine the source of questionable product. Both the flea market operator and the person renting the space from the operator should be liable for failure to produce such proof. Complementary education of police services and justice officials is required to ensure that these professional offenders are more appropriately dealt with. In one Ontario jurisdiction, retailers were unable to get local police to investigate organized professional retail theft rings operating in the area. Instead they had to approach another police agency, in whose jurisdiction the crime ring also operated.