The surge in theft-related incidents across Australian retail stores is a rising problem that is leaving retail employees feeling increasingly vulnerable and concerned about their safety.
Retail theft is a common occurrence that companies deal with and account for. The NSW Bureau of Crime statistics announced as part of their theft and property crime report that as of 2021, a 47.5% increase in retail theft-related incidents has been revealed.
According to the National Research Association, shoplifting is considered a minor act; they are defined as not paying for an item or committing unauthorised damage to property.
Retail sales assistant Taylah Domazetovski has worked in the industry for two years, and said the increase in theft made her more cautious and increased her anxiety while at work.
“It’s always the people you least expect that would steal, so that makes you more aware of different individuals,” Miss Domazetovski said.
Confrontations with shoplifters in retail stores across Australia are a common occurrence that retail workers experience almost daily.
However, retail workers are finding themselves ill-prepared when dealing with these situations.
Retail sales assistant Natalie Szafranek believes that management isn’t offering adequate support for dealing with potentially dangerous situations.
“I feel like there aren’t really that many good policies helping us and supporting us,” Miss Szafranek said.
“The customers that are stealing are likely to be more aggravated and not respond well to confrontation,
“We can’t really do much about thieves but when we do, we don’t really feel safe when we confront them.”
During the 2024 Retail Crime Symposium, Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra said retail crime is becoming one of the most pressing issues of the industry and it is having devastating impacts on businesses and their teams.
With retail-theft on the rise, employees are struggling mentally and deliberating whether going to work is worth being involuntarily engaged in unsafe situations.