Loss Prevention Services for Retail Stores in the Lower Mainland
Written by Paul Thandi, Operations Manager, On Guard Security Ltd. — 10+ years in BC security · Updated September 2026
Theft is part of running a store, but it doesn’t have to be accepted as a fixed cost. Our loss prevention services give BC retailers trained people on the sales floor: uniformed guards who deter theft by being visible, and plain-clothes officers who notice what cameras and staff miss. This page explains what the service includes, how to choose between the two approaches, what our officers can and can’t do when they see a theft, and how an engagement starts. If you want the wider toolkit first, including store layout, tagging and staff training, read our guide to retail loss prevention methods.
Key takeaways
Loss prevention services put licensed people on your floor to deter, detect and document theft.
Uniformed guards work best as a deterrent at the door, and plain-clothes officers work best at spotting repeat and organised theft.
In Canada, an arrest by a guard is a citizen’s arrest with strict limits, and the person must be handed to police right away.
Staff and customer safety comes before merchandise, every time.
On Guard Security Ltd. provides licensed, JIBC-trained, unarmed officers to stores across Surrey and the Lower Mainland.
Every store is different, so we build the service around your layout, your hours and the items that go missing most. A typical engagement includes some or all of the following:
Entrance and exit coverage. A uniformed officer at the main entrances and exits, greeting customers and making it clear that the store is watched.
Floor observation. Plain-clothes officers who watch high-risk aisles, fitting rooms and blind spots, and recognise the behaviour that comes before theft.
Support for staff. A trained person to call when an employee feels unsafe, a customer becomes aggressive or a refund looks wrong.
Opening and closing. Officers present when staff open, count cash or lock up.
Documentation. Written incident reports with times, descriptions and what was recovered, ready for your insurer or the police.
Staff awareness. Our employee safe-walk program gives your team the basics of what to do in an emergency.
We don’t sell cameras, tags or alarm systems. If you already have them, our officers work with them. People and technology are stronger together, because a camera records a theft but a person can stop it happening.
Both roles fall under the same worker licence in BC. The provincial Security Services Regulation lists a single “security guard” licence that includes “performing loss-prevention services”. The choice between them is about tactics, not credentials.
Uniformed loss prevention guard
Plain-clothes loss prevention officer
Main purpose
Deterrence and reassurance
Detection and evidence
Where they work
Entrances, exits, high-value counters
Aisles, fitting rooms, blind spots
Best against
Casual and opportunistic theft, disorder at the door
Many stores use both: a uniformed guard at the door during busy hours and a plain-clothes officer on the days when losses are highest. For centre-wide coverage of parking lots and common areas, see our shopping centre security service.
Key insight: A uniform prevents theft and plain clothes detect it. If your losses come from the same few people returning, detection matters more than deterrence.
Loss prevention officers are private citizens, not police. Their power to arrest comes from section 494 of the Criminal Code. It allows the owner or lawful possessor of property, or a person they authorize, to arrest someone they find committing a criminal offence on or in relation to that property. The arrest must happen at the time, or within a reasonable time after if it isn’t feasible for police to make it. Anyone who is not a peace officer and makes an arrest must hand the person to police right away.
Force is limited too. Section 25 of the Criminal Code protects a private person acting on reasonable grounds only for using as much force as is necessary. The Security Services Regulation also bars guards from carrying restraining devices unless the provincial registrar has authorized them.
In practice, our officers follow a simple order of priorities: safety first, then evidence, then recovery. If a situation could turn violent, they let the merchandise go, note the details and call police. An arrest is only made when the officer has seen the offence, the grounds are clear and it can be done safely. Our guide to what private security guards can and can’t do explains these limits in more detail.
Key insight: A detention made on a guess puts your store at legal risk. Careful officers make arrests only on solid grounds, which protects both the store and the officer.
Walk-through. We visit the store, look at the layout, entrances, stockroom access and blind spots, and ask where you think the losses happen.
Store policy. We agree in writing what officers do when they see theft, when police are called, and what your staff should do.
Schedule. We match hours to your risk: peak trading, deliveries, closing, or the weeks before the holidays.
Handover. The officer meets your manager and staff, learns your procedures and knows who to call.
Review. After the first few weeks we look at the reports with you and adjust the plan.
Cost depends on the hours booked, the number of officers, whether you need uniformed or plain-clothes coverage, and how long the contract runs. Our security guard cost guide explains how those factors add up.
A loss prevention program is only as useful as the information it produces. Our incident reports record the date, time and location in the store, what was seen, what was recovered, whether police were called, and a file number where one exists. Over time those reports show patterns, such as the product lines being targeted, the hours when losses happen and the entrances being used. That lets you move displays, change staffing or adjust our hours based on evidence rather than guesswork.
On Guard Security Ltd. has more than 10 years in BC security and is based at 12565 88 Ave in Surrey, with coverage across Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Langley, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley. Our officers are licensed and JIBC-trained, and every new hire completes a week of one-on-one training with a senior officer. We’re WorkSafeBC compliant, fully insured and available 24/7 for short seasonal contracts or ongoing coverage.
Loss prevention services supply trained, licensed people who reduce theft and loss in a store. That means uniformed guards who deter theft at the entrances and plain-clothes officers who watch the floor, supported by incident reports that show where and when losses happen.
What does a loss prevention agent do?
A loss prevention agent watches for theft, supports staff during difficult situations, and records what happens. When they see an offence and it is safe to act, they may make a citizen’s arrest under the Criminal Code and must hand the person to police right away. Otherwise they document the incident and call police.
Who owns loss prevention services?
The retailer owns its loss prevention program. Larger chains often run an in-house team, while independent stores and many franchises contract the work to a licensed security company such as On Guard Security Ltd. Either way, the store sets the policy and the officers carry it out.
Should I choose a uniformed guard or a plain-clothes officer?
Choose a uniformed guard if you mainly want to deter opportunistic theft and reassure staff and customers. Choose a plain-clothes officer if losses come from repeat or organised theft that a visible guard would simply wait out. Many stores use both at different times.
What happens when a loss prevention officer catches a shoplifter?
It depends on safety and the store’s policy. If the officer saw the offence and can act safely, they may arrest the person under section 494 of the Criminal Code, use no more force than necessary, and hand them to police right away. If the situation could turn violent, they let the person go, record the details and report it to police.
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