Victoria is now facing a shocking increase in retail crime as stores are being ransacked almost daily, causing major concern for the supermarket chains. The state’s bold numbers make it clear that non-commercial and commercial shoplifting harmed at least 169,673 victims in 2024. This is a nearly unbelievable 29 percent jump from last year. Given the recent increase in violence and harassment, businesses are doing their best to protect their workers and customers. This dramatic increase has led to serious conversations about what stores might need to close.
The emergency has already hit a boiling point. Influential campaigner Fred Harrison, head of the large independent supermarket chain, Costcutter, is now calling for store closures across Victoria. He noted that 95 percent of the problems his business encounters originate at the state level. This reality creates urgency for him to reconsider their location in the state.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) last week delivered some shocking news. Last year, such theft reached a national 21-year high, with police indicating 595,660 victims. Counterproductive policies are exacerbating the surge in retail crime – some 800,000 incidents reported in the past year alone. This worrying trend is a meaningful challenge for retailers of all sizes in Australia.
Rising Violence and Aggression
The sharp rise in retail crime has left grocers little choice but to make more immediate adjustments to their security practices and procedures. Sarah Faorlin, head of the Acts of Violence and Aggression unit at Woolworths, said despite this, their team members filled out reports for over 6,000 incidents last year. This is up an unbelievable 26 percent over last year. This dangerous development is part of a growing crisis that is spilling over onto retail workers across the country.
“So it’s an escalating issue, one that we see right across the country.” – Sarah Faorlin
Faorlin went on to explain just how drastic the situation is inside Woolworths stores. In her testimony during a Senate hearing, she mentioned how some of these incidents seem clearly coordinated, with thieves often storming into stores armed and ready.
“We could see that it was very organised retail crime. They would come on a very regular basis as well with weapons and just walk straight out of our store with lawnmowers, barbecues, hot water services.” – Sarah Faorlin
This violence hasn’t just disrupted day-to-day business. It has endangered their employees’ safety and well-being. Retail workers such as Olivia have come to realize that feeling unsafe at work is unacceptable, especially after being assaulted multiple times.
Implementing Safety Measures
In response to these escalating threats, Bunnings has introduced body-worn cameras and tactical guards to shield their employees. Olivia spoke about how these new precautions have positively impacted her workplace, to-go meals.
“These are guards that can actually physically apprehend anyone that is aggressive towards our team or customers and remove them from the store.” – Olivia
Even with these upgrades, Olivia shared her frustration that these security and safety measures should be required in the first place.
“Whilst we have put these measures in place that have made our store the safest it’s ever been, we shouldn’t have to do that. That’s not fair.” – Olivia
In all of this, both Faorlin and Olivia stress that the retail worker’s right to be safe while carrying out essential tasks is paramount. Faorlin said that it should not be okay for workers to be subjected to violence while just trying to do their job.
“I think it is completely unacceptable that a retail worker would need to do anything more than what they’re doing today in performing their job.” – Sarah Faorlin
Calls for Legislative Action
The Australian Retail Association (ARA) is currently advocating for national workplace protection orders. These orders have already produced encouraging results in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). These orders are intended to address rampant retail crime and create a safer working environment for workers nationwide in multiple states.
Chris Rodwell from the ARA voiced his deep concerns regarding the rising tide of retail crime across Australia:
“We’re deeply concerned about retail crime across Australia. There’s been 800,000 incidents in the past year and that’s rising and in some states it’s surging.” – Chris Rodwell
As these trends only deepen, many brick-and-mortar retailers are beginning to experience serious economic damage. Harrison added that many retailers were unable to keep up with normal trading volumes because of rampant theft and violence.
“Their trading volumes are down. And so this theft, for some of them, gets them to a point where it’s very hard to conceive for them how they can continue in business.” – Chris Rodwell
This sustained violence has resulted in innumerable retailers now reconsidering their future in Victoria. Harrison mentioned that store leases may need reevaluation as businesses consider whether it is safer or more profitable to remain operational.
“It’s getting to a point now where [at] a number of our stores, you’ve got to question when leases come up, do we want to remain in this area? Do we want to remain in this store?” – Fred Harrison
