Media Release

For Immediate Release
Tuesday March 19, 2002

Brampton, Ontario - Each year, Canadian businesses lose more than $1.5 billion dollars through theft and crime. Canadian retailers alone lose an estimated *$3.4 million dollars a day (or $1.2 billion dollars a year) through customer and employee theft. An innovative partnership between The Brampton Board of Trade, The Brampton Safe City Association (Brampton's community safety organization), and The Peel Regional Police is tackling this issue by providing Brampton businesses with an array of free services and resources aimed at reducing losses from thefts. This business-community partnership is believed to be unique in Canada, and will provide participating businesses with tools such as: regular crime trend bulletins and advisories from Peel Regional Police, access to commercial safety audits, access to employee workshops on security and safety strategies, crime prevention tip sheets and a quarterly business safety newsletter.

"This partnership is one of the cornerstones of The Brampton Board of Trade's philosophy of creating a stronger city by working directly with key community stakeholders", said John Sanderson (President of The Brampton Board of Trade). "Each Board of Trade Member and their employees, will benefit by having a greater awareness of crime prevention techniques resulting in reduced opportunities for crime and greater growth and profitability for their businesses." (John Sanderson).

"This type of partnership is a win-win situation for both business and the community at large. By participating in the Business Crime Prevention Program, businesses make themselves safer places, while at the same time contributing to the overall safety of our great City. We are thrilled to be joining forces with The Board of Trade and Peel Police to deliver this innovative program." (Larry Zacher, Safe City President)

In Peel Region alone, the total value of thefts to businesses in 2001 were estimated at more than **$8.5 million dollars. The Business Crime Prevention Program partners are confident that this new partnership will help to significantly lower that impact and will result in even safer and more profitable businesses in Brampton. For more information on the Business Crime Prevention Program please contact either The Brampton Board of Trade at (905) 451-1122, The Brampton Safe City Association at (905) 793-5484 or Peel Regional Police Crime Prevention Services at (905) 453-3311. Or visit the partner Web sites at www.bramptonbot.com, www.bramptonsafecity.ca, or www.peelpolice.on.ca/crimeprevention.

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