Data reveals retail theft at record high as Victorians swipe meat and toiletries at the supermarket

Cost-of-living pressures have pushed retail theft in Victoria to a record high, climbing from 7308 to a staggering 26,229 offences in the year to September, with meat and toiletries the main targets.

Cost-of-living pressures have pushed retail theft in Victoria to a record high, climbing from 7308 to a staggering 26,229 offences in the year to September, with meat and toiletries the main targets.

New data reveals that as theft in the state soars, crimes against individuals – mostly on the lower level of the spectrum with no serious injuries – increased by 1.1 per cent year-on-year.

The Crime Statistics Agency has revealed the main driver of the 7.6 per cent increase in criminal offences is due to overall theft, which is up from 22,683 to 167,099.

“Cost-of-living pressures and rising inflation are linked to this increase, and police intelligence indicates that as many as 40 per cent of offenders are first-time offenders,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

“In Melbourne, price rises in fuel, alcohol, cigarettes, groceries and transport aligned with the items targeted in thefts from shops.”

National Retail Association, deputy chief executive officer Lindsay Carroll said some sectors in the industry had experienced a 40 per cent increase in retail theft in the past 12 months.

She said the biggest spikes were recorded in Victoria and Western Australia.

“Certainly, retailers are acutely aware that theft is happening on a much more frequent basis than what it was at least 12 months ago,” Ms Carroll said.

“Products like electronics, cosmetics and designer clothing appear to be frequent targets.

Coles and Woolworths are both employing covert and overt ways to curb retail theft. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

“In the supermarket, the commonly reported things that are most frequently stolen are toiletries and meat.

“You can probably see more of an indicator there of the pressures that people are facing in the current cost-of-living crisis than anywhere else.”

Ms Carroll said there were different types of offenders, with those swiping more expensive items almost certainly the work of organised gangs, whereas at the supermarket the culprits were more opportunistic and generally people who were struggling.

Ms Carroll said retail crime had the potential to escalate to more serious offending.

“Things like knife crime, for example, or there might be sexual harassment – those type of aspects related to the crime that’s happening in a retail store,” she said. “So, obviously, as it escalates in seriousness, the police have strategies for a more rapid response.”

Dr Bridget Harris, Associate Professor of Criminology at Monash University, said the rising cost of utilities, transport, groceries and housing were likely contributing to a rise in theft.

“There are extensive pressures on individuals and families. It’s not surprising that we’re seeing many first-time offenders,” she said.

“Responses often focus on regulation and punishment, but governments need to be investing in further resources and supports for communities as opposed to crime-control initiatives.”

National Retail Association deputy CEO Lindsay Carroll.

A Coles spokesman said the supermarket chain employed a large team of plain-clothed loss- prevention officers across its network to reduce theft.

“While most of our customers do the right thing, unfortunately a small number don’t,” he said.

“Coles has a range of security measures in place to reduce theft from our stores including CCTV, electronic article surveillance and, in some stores, new smart-gate technology that automatically opens as customers make payment for their products.”

Woolworths said it used a number of “covert and overt” initiatives to reduce retail crime.