NSW’s most dangerous shopping centres for retail theft, assault, drug offences and abductions
The criminal underbelly of NSW’s shopping centres has been revealed with hundreds of violent attacks, drugs changing hands and even kidnappings recorded in retail centres across the state. See which areas are most prone to crime.
Blacktown
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The criminal underbelly of NSW’s shopping centres has been revealed with hundreds of violent attacks, drugs changing hands and even kidnappings recorded in retail centres across the state.
More than 4000 recorded incidents of assault took place at retail and wholesale premises in NSW last year, data collected from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has revealed.
In the same period, there were more than 200 recorded instances of abduction, 359 sexual offences, 795 drug offences and 483 robberies.
The terrifying data comes as a high school student was violently attacked at a southwest Sydney shopping centre by other students who had allegedly bullied her for months.
A spokeswoman for The Scentre Group, which operates a number of Westfield shopping centres across the state, said customer safety was of the utmost importance.
“The safety and security of our customers, retail partners and people is always our highest priority,” she said. “Our Westfield Living Centres are considered community hubs, integral to the daily lives of our customers and the communities we serve.”
The shopping centre operator has safety plans in place and works closely with police and other authorities.
“Our ongoing focus on safety, security and the wellbeing of our communities means customers can continue to feel safe, welcome and respected when visiting us,” she said.
Police are a constant presence in major retail centres across the state, leading frequent “high visibility” operations to target crime in shopping strips.
“Officers work closely with shopping centre management, as well as crime prevention officers and other relevant stakeholders to run these proactive operations, which occur regularly throughout the calendar year across the state,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said.
“Retail theft continues to cost the industry billions of dollars every year, which is why NSW Police remain committed to cracking down on those who attempt to take goods without paying for them, this sort of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated.”
NSW Police said it was important shoppers take precautions to make sure they don’t fall victim to crime. Key tips include:
The National Retail Association (NRA) said close to $9 billion was lost each year through shoplifting alone, with thieves typically targeting electrical stores, supermarkets and discount department stores.
The not-for-profit organisation estimated only 20 per cent of retail crimes were reported to police.
According to BOCSAR data in 2021, there were 17,923 recorded incidents of retail theft across the state.
While statewide retail theft rates have dropped in the past 12 months, the areas with the highest number of recorded instances are Blacktown and the Central Coast.
According to BOCSAR, the top 10 worst local government areas for retail theft in 2021 were; Sydney (1685), Blacktown (1023), Central Coast (824), Penrith (724), Newcastle (708), Wollongong (700), Parramatta (579), Lake Macquarie (546), Campbelltown (517) and the Inner West (488).
See how many recorded instances of major crimes, such as drug offences, robberies and sexual incidents, took place in retail and wholesale premises in major local government areas in 2021.
Blacktown LGA
Assault: 338
Robbery: 42
Drug Offences: 37
Abduction and Kidnapping: 8
Sexual Offences: 23
Malicious damage to property: 36
Westpoint Blacktown is one of the area’s largest shopping centres and is regularly patrolled by police, but that doesn’t always stop all crimes from occurring.
In March last year, a 13 and 14-year-old boy were charged over a brawl which left one boy with a stab wound at Westpoint Blacktown shopping centre.
He was treated at the scene when paramedics arrived and was transported to Blacktown Hospital for further care.
Central Coast LGA
Assault: 196
Robbery: 19
Drug Offences: 40
Abduction and Kidnapping: 8
Sexual Offences: 13
Malicious damage to property: 40
In the Central Coast, a man assaulted two security guards at Erina Fair before he coughed on them and claimed he was infected with Covid-19.
Court facts state a male security officer was called to the Myer men’s department as staff were concerned about a man in the store.
The Woy Woy man confronted the security guard standing 5cm away from his face and at one point stood “nose to nose” and said “you old fat c**t, f**king back off or I’ll f**king nail you”.
With clenched fists he went on to say “I mean I could f**king rip off your f**king head and kill you”.
A female security officer arrived on scene and he threw clothing at her before he attempted to run off with more clothes.
When told he was under arrest, the Woy Woy man grabbed the guard by the leg and pushed him to the ground. The guard managed to get him in an arm lock and avoided a number of headbutt attempts.
He was sentenced to 18 months jail with a non parole period of nine months.
Full story here.
Penrith LGA
Assault: 159
Robbery: 25
Drug Offences: 14
Abduction and Kidnapping: 6
Sexual Offences: 13
Malicious damage to property: 31
Westfield Penrith say it has a strong stance on making their centre as safe as possible by banning individuals for a minimum of six months if they conduct any form of criminal behaviour on their premises.
“All our customers, retailers and staff also have a right to feel safe and respected when they are here. If we all do our bit, we can all enjoy our time at Westfield,” a spokesman said.
“Anyone who conducts criminal behaviour inside their centre is automatically banned for a minimum of six months.”
Campbelltown LGA
Assault: 109
Robbery: 21
Drug Offences: 18
Abduction and Kidnapping: 3
Sexual Offences: 10
Malicious damage to property: 16
A cafe at Campbelltown shopping centre Macarthur Square, Justinian‘s Cafe and Dessert Bar, was robbed and trashed earlier this year.
Owner Mr Georgopoulos said the robbers had taken everything they could lay their hands on and trashed the rest of the cafe, putting the small cafe out of business for a week.
Full story here.
Waverley
Assault: 49
Robbery: 1 to 4
Drug Offences: 7
Abduction and Kidnapping: 2
Sexual Offences: 12
Malicious damage to property: 6
Parramatta
Assault: 135
Robbery: 13
Drug Offences: 39
Abduction and Kidnapping: 7
Sexual Offences: 9
Malicious damage to property: 17
In 2021, a man armed with a firearm and a crowbar walked into a jewellery store at Westfield Parramatta and threatened two female staff members before demanding cash.
He managed to steal jewellery and watches, before threatening a third woman as she walked into the shop.
Full story here.
Newcastle
Assault: 144
Robbery: 29
Drug Offences: 19
Abduction and Kidnapping: 2
Sexual Offences: 9
Malicious damage to property: 34
Wollongong
Assault: 119
Robbery: 13
Drug Offences: 24
Abduction and Kidnapping: 11
Sexual Offences: 8
Malicious damage to property: 24
In 2020 three girls were accused of attacking another teenager "like a pack of wild dogs" in Figtree Grove shopping centre.
Vision uploaded to social media showed a 14-year old girl being beaten and left convulsing on the bathroom floor at Figtree Grove shopping centre in Wollongong.
Full story here.
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