Retailers and police across Saskatchewan say shoplifting is becoming more organized, more violent and far more costly as the holiday season ramps up — a trend mirrored across the country and prompting stepped-up enforcement in Saskatoon this month.

According to national data from the Retail Council of Canada, retail losses have more than doubled over the past 12 years.

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Losses were estimated at $4 billion in 20122, rising to $5 billion in 2018 and jumping to $9.1 billion in 2024.

Rui Rodriguez, the council’s executive advisor for loss prev

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