Break-in at Running Factory on Walker Road points to larger trend of retail thefts

Police in Windsor, Ont., are investigating a smash-and-grab theft after a vehicle was driven through the front of a shoe store early Thursday morning.

Just before 6 a.m. Thursday, a vehicle drove through the front of The Running Factory on Walker Road.

Officers said the suspects fled the scene before officers arrived, making off with stolen merchandise.

This incident is the latest in a troubling trend of similar crimes across Windsor and beyond, leaving business owners across Canada grappling with how to protect their stores amid rising concerns over theft.

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), nearly half of all small businesses in Canada reported experiencing crime in 2024. For business owners, these crimes bring financial strain and emotional distress.

“Imagine you're a business owner, and you can’t even go to bed at night because you’re worried something might happen to your business,” said CFIB representative Julie Kwiecinski.

The Running Factory’s break-in shares similarities with other early morning commercial break-ins in Windsor.

In Jan. 2024, Windsor police said suspects stole a "substantial amount" of jewelry from a store inside Tecumseh Mall. To gain access inside, a vehicle was reportedly used as a "battering ram" to break through a wall around 4 a.m.

This past September, four thieves entered BB Branded at Devonshire Mall through a back door, stealing merchandise. The owner, at the time, said the break-in happened around 6 a.m. before the store opened.

In November, just before the holidays, the owner of Bob Reaume Sports alleged burglars used a vehicle to break the front door of his store so they could enter inside and steal items.

One month later, police investigated two overnight break-ins at Home Hardware stores in Kingsville and Essex at 2:12 a.m. and 2:32 a.m., respectively.

According to a spokesperson for Ontario Provincial Police in Essex County, investigations into these types of crimes are "common."

"When a place of business is closed at night and there's no one around, it could be a prime target for thieves. That's why we do recommend certain steps to safeguard your place of business," said Const. Steven Duguay.

According to the CFIB, some of the measures businesses owners have turned to include increasing outdoor lighting and installing high-quality security cameras.

However, for some businesses, implementing these measures is not feasible – especially at a time when inflation has already impacted their bottom line.

"The average consumer on the street is worried about spending money," Kwiecinski said. "So it's a challenge for businesses to spend a lot of money on things such as security and [extra] insurance."

However, without proper security measures, police investigations can become more challenging.

"If we have no camera, no visuals, even if we can remove fingerprints from the place of business, we have to have someone in our database that can match up to those fingerprints," said Duguay.

To offset the threat of break-ins, the CFIB said small business owners who open their first (or a new) location have passed on the opportunity to open in certain areas where crime is perceived to be higher.

"Many businesses are looking at a location and wondering if it's going to be easy for somebody to come in and steal their stuff" said Kwiecinski.

"So it's a different way of thinking now as a business owner, especially if you're starting a business and you already have these thoughts in your mind."