Australian retailers recorded a 66% year-on-year increase in retail crime involving weapons last year.
New data from Australian retailers using retail crime reporting software, Auror, showed events involving knives and blades were up by more than 40% in 2024, compared to the previous year.
Nationally, retailers recorded a 30% increase in violent or serious events, as well as a 39% increase in threatening events last year.
Victorian retailers recorded the largest jump in both violent and threatening retail crime events, up 38% and 52%, respectively.
Auror Senior Director Trust & Safety Nick McDonnell says the data shows that retail crime is becoming more brazen, more violent and more organised, and the biggest impact is on frontline workers, customers and their communities.
“What’s confronting is, about one in four retail crime events last year involved some form of violence, intimidation, threats, physical or verbal abuse,” he says.
“Police do an incredible job keeping us all safe and there is no substitute for the hands-on work they do in our community, but crime in retail is such a high-volume crime type that it’s impossible to address it all.
“However, focusing on repeat offenders causing the majority of the high-volume, high-harm offences is critical – and you can only do that if you have visibility to the total problem.”
Organised retail crime networks and prolific offenders continue to cause the most harm, as data shows 10% of offenders last year were responsible for over 60% of the total harm and loss.
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) are calling on policymakers to prioritise violent retail crime as a matter of urgency.
ARA Chief Industry Affairs Officer Fleur Brown says alongside more tech-based solutions and funding for security measures, Australian retailers need ongoing support in the form of tougher penalties for offenders across every state and territory.
“Retail crime has a profound and lasting impact on frontline retail staff and in some instances, customers. Everyone has a right to feel safe while at work or shopping,” she says.
“Unfortunately, we’re continuing to see an increase in retail crime and aggressive behaviour across the country, particularly in Victoria; and we remain focused on the need for the government to implement proven measures that improve the safety of retail workers.”
