Crime data reveals prevalence of shoplifting across South Australia, with a notable increase in Old Reynella
Shoplifting data from across South Australia shows the crime increasing in many suburbs, and even doubled in some. Explore the rest of the data here.
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Shoplifting has skyrocketed in Old Reynella, with new crime data showing exactly where sneaky thieves are becoming more prominent.
Analysis of SA Police figures by The Advertiser found there were a total of 103 offences categorised as “theft from shop” in Old Reynella during 2019-20. It was a massive increase from 36 in the year before.
Old Reynella is home to about 3400 people and has a prominent Bunnings Warehouse. The hardware giant declined to comment on whether a rise in shoplifting was detected at the store.
A similar increase in shoplifting was recorded in the regional suburb of Whyalla Stuart, while rates doubled in St Marys, South Plympton and Henley Beach.
Elizabeth, home to one of the largest shopping centres in the state, was the third worst postcode for overall shoplifting offences during the year, behind only Oaklands Park and the Adelaide CBD.
There were nearly 500 theft from shop offences in Elizabeth in 2019-20, compared to just 269 in the previous year.
The surge in Elizabeth caused the suburb to have one of the worst crime per-capita rates for any metropolitan suburb.
Shoplifting offences rose across many other northern suburbs, including Smithfield and Salisbury, which recorded 38 and 31 per cent increases respectively. Thefts from shops also notably increased in Kilburn, Salisbury Downs and Paralowie.
Oaklands Park – an area dominated by Westfield Marion shopping centre – was the postcode with the second most recorded offences for the year at 510.
More than 1200 thefts from shops were recorded in the CBD.
South Australian Independent Retailers chief executive Colin Shearing said shoplifting was more common among “poorer-class communities”.
However, Mr Shearing also noted shoplifting was often committed by staff members.
“It could be a staff member perpetrating this or contacts of staff members,” he said.
“I know through my owners who I represent that this is quite prevalent.”
He said shoplifting was like a “black-market business”.
“There are not just individuals, there are gangs of people who do this almost as their living,” he said.
“It’s a $3bn industry across the country. It’s got a huge impact on retailers and it doesn’t go away.
“People are pretty brazen out there and they will do it under daylight and under full CCTV and expect to get away with it.”