Toronto's Chinatown has hired a private security firm in an effort to crack down on petty crime.

The Chinatown Business Improvement Area has hired the guards to patrol the neighbourhood and keep a watch out for the small crimes that Toronto police are often too busy to deal with efficiently — things such as trespassing, shoplifting and loitering.

Stephen Chan, chair of the BIA, said summer is a busy time of year for Chinatown and petty criminals can take advantage of the steady influx of tourists.

During the day "a lot of people aren't being careful with hiding their valuables, being exposed," he said.

Chan said the security guards are part of a pilot project and will patrol the neighbourhood over the next three weeks.

Merchants in Chinatown said they are pleased and that the neighbourhood should have made the move a long time ago.