Shop and retail theft rates in SA remain steady despite crackdown

Shoplifting rates amid the state’s cost of living crisis are still sky high with reports brazen thieves are stealing trolleys full of food and threatening the safety of retail staff.

Latest crime statistics reveal retail theft remains one of the biggest issues for the state’s police despite a slight drop in offending rates from the last month – but a huge 29 per cent increase on the same time a year ago.

Shoplifters were responsible for all but one offence recorded in Eastwood in March as police brace for a continuation of high shop theft rates across the state.

Eastwood recorded 12 shop theft offences – and 13 offences total – for the month.

Retail theft accounted for 19 per cent of all offending in the CBD with 143 reported offences, second only to other thefts such as fuel drive-offs which accounted for more than 21 per cent of all crimes for March.

Offences ‘against the person’ which includes crimes such as assaults, threatening behaviour and harassment accounted for almost 19 per cent of all offending.

An analysis of shoplifting rates to overall suburb offences for March revealed West Lakes recorded the second highest with 89 offences – or 76 per cent.

It was followed by Oaklands Park with 51.4 per cent, Norwood with 51.8 per cent, and Modbury on 41.3 per cent.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says police would continue its crackdown on retail theft rates. Picture: Tom Huntley

Each of those centres, except Norwood, have major retail shopping centres.

The overall number of shoplifting offences increased by 29 per cent compared to the same time last year, but the March figure of 1455 offences is the lowest recorded for more than a year.

It comes amid a continued crackdown by police and on the back of a near-high rate of offending in January when 1721 offences were reported.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said police, the retail sector and businesses had worked proactively to “reduce the harm caused by recidivist offenders”.

“This significant factor has contributed to businesses increasing their reporting which has in turn assisted police in combating the problem,” he said.

“While such reporting elevates the statistics for shop theft, it gives a much clearer picture of the extent of the problem while at the same time providing greater opportunities to both apprehend and deter recidivist offenders.

“This increased reporting trend is expected to continue and will further elevate the statistics.’’

The ongoing police taskforce Operation Measure has resulted in 1383 apprehensions and more than 8000 charges since March 2022.

Assaults against police has also increased by 26 per cent in the 12 month period, from 490 to 617.

SDA Secretary Josh Peak says the union, which represents 33,000 workers, would continue its push for reforms to increase safety of retail workers. Photo: Kelly Barnes

Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association secretary Josh Peak said the union, which represents 33,000 workers across the state, remained “highly concerned” about the retail theft rates he said were “remaining stubbornly high”.

“We are continuing to see an increase in violence towards retail workers, and are pleased to be working with the state government and industry more broadly and developing a series of recommendations on how we can make retail workplaces safer in the midst of this dramatic increase in shop theft.”

Mr Peak said the union would continue to push for reform to deliver stronger protections for retail workers.

“What we’re particularly concerned about is the real brazen nature of stealing,” he said.

“We’re seeing, sometimes, trolley full of goods being wheeled out of supermarkets and department stores, and swarming events where people are not at all being hesitant to show their face or hide the fact they’re stealing.

“They’re risking the health and safety of workers.”

He said the union wanted stronger laws to ban abusive customers, potentially linking it to bail, an overhaul of the current infringement system, and greater penalties for recidivists.

He added that a recent roundtable with police was encouraging.

Other crime statistics for March revealed homicide and related offences recorded a 42 per cent increase, with murder recording the highest increase of 69 per cent from 13 to 22.

Each homicide has been solved, and police said the increase could be “regarded as a statistical outlier”.

The majority related to domestic violence related incidents, mental health, robbery or drugs while the remainder were due to other circumstances.