North Mackay IGA suffer break-ins, assault despite shoplifting wall of shame

Despite hanging photos shaming shoplifters on their wall, one Queensland IGA continues to suffer theft, break-ins and even assault as the store owner cops one in the face confronting a supposed shoplifter.

While the North Mackay IGA installs CCTV and a wall of shame of shoplifters, the LNP pledge $40m for small businesses to beef up their security. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Despite building a wall of shame for shoplifters, one IGA continues to deal with theft, break-ins and even the assault of staff.

On September 27, the owner of IGA North Mackay, who only wished to be named as ‘Henry’ was punched after blocking an alleged shoplifter from leaving the store.

This comes after he invested $40,000 into installing a CCTV system in an attempt to stop the rampant theft plaguing the shop, he said.

Store manager Josh Grech said on top of having a security guard, he or the owner now spend their days watching looking for shoplifters for their ‘wall of shame’ via CCTV monitors.

Mr Grech said the wall of shame helped stop shoplifting “a little bit” but now shoppers are used to the sight.

“We’re getting to the point now where they don’t care,” Mr Grech said.

“They don’t care if they’re causing a scene … they don’t care if they’re damaging stuff.”

The attack was never reported to police.

Mr Grech also described an instance where a woman with a pram was ramming him in order to escape with items she had stuffed into it.

“It makes me feel unsafe because they can do whatever they want,” he said.

The sign hangs on both sides of the store’s only entrance. Photo: Fergus Gregg

On top of the wall of shame, the IGA North Mackay has a strict ‘no bag’ policy, with customers forced to leave their personal bags at register three and submit to bag checks at anytime.

Shadow minister for police and community safety Dan Purdie said police just don’t have the resources to respond to incidents like these.

“We know small businesses, particularly in Mackay, can’t afford to absorb these losses,” Mr Purdie said.

Mr Purdie pointed to new LNP election commitment, the Secure Communities Partnership Program, as a way to mitigate the expense of upgrading security in small businesses.

Mackay LNP candidate Nigel Dalton was joined by shadow minister for police and community safety Dan Purdie at the North Mackay store. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Delivering $40m over two years, the fund will be made available to small businesses for the purpose of installing CCTV systems, safety lighting or alarms to prevent crime.

“We know how important it is for small and family owned businesses to improve their security to prevent the loss of stock but also to protect their staff,” Mr Purdie said.

Mackay LNP candidate Nigel Dalton said IGA North Mackay were trying their best to reduce crime.

“What we’re constantly seeing is that there are no consequences for the actions of the people who are stealing,” Mr Dalton said.

Mr Purdie attributed part of the problem to youth offenders and said police in Mackay were fighting the youth crime crisis with “both hands tied behind their back”.

“Our police are doing everything they possibly can to drive down crime,” Mr Purdie said. 

When asked about new police statistics reflecting a decrease in youth offences in the last year, Mr Purdie said the true picture of criminality is not necessarily known.

“Small businesses are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars of stock and they’re not even reporting it to police.”
At the press conference, both Mr Purdie and Mr Dalton cited “$300,000 in lost stock” at the North Mackay IGA over a year.
When the Daily Mercury asked Mr Grech about the $300,000 figure, he said during a stocktake 12 months ago the store discovered that was the amount of goods unaccounted for.
The Daily Mercury asked both Mr Purdie and Mr Dalton if they meant to imply the store had $300,000 stolen by customers — given that would equal out to $821 dollars worth of goods each day.

We did not receive a response prior to publishing.

Originally published as North Mackay IGA suffer break-ins, assault despite shoplifting wall of shame