They find it extremely difficult to remain competitive while unscrupulous individuals sell stolen merchandise. Smaller retailers are even more impacted by these events. In the end, the cost for these illegal practices is borne by the retail customer in terms of higher prices. 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.