Retailers hit hardest amid rising theft cases

Retail Theft in Australia Hits 21-Year High

Retail theft in Australia has reached crisis levels, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)and the Australian Retailers Association (ARA). The report revealed 595,660 theft victims in 2024 — the highest figure in 21 years and a 6% rise from 2023.

Nearly half of all theft cases (45%) happened in retail settings, showing that stores are increasingly being targeted by shoplifters.

Retailers Face Growing Shoplifting Surge

ARA CEO Chris Rodwell said the data reflects what retailers are experiencing daily — a surge in retail crime impacting both staff and customers.

“We’re facing a full-scale retail crime crisis,” Rodwell said. “Thefts in stores have climbed dramatically over the past decade, with Victoria alone seeing a 29% increase in 2024.”

Call for Stronger Retail Crime Laws

The ARA is urging governments to take immediate and coordinated action. Key recommendations include:

• Introducing workplace protection orders similar to those in the ACT

• Strengthening retail crime laws in states like Victoria

• Encouraging the use of technology solutions such as body-worn cameras and facial recognition systems to deter offenders

Rodwell emphasized that retail theft not only threatens safety but also drives up prices for consumers.