South Australian Independent Retailers warns shoplifters committing more ‘organised’ and ‘sophisticated’ crimes as worker assaults soar

Shoplifting has become an organised crime “epidemic”, a peak retailers union warns, as new figures show local workers cop abuse more than anywhere in the country.

Shoplifting has become an organised crime “epidemic”, a peak retailers union warns, with more than 250 thefts reported to police weekly across South Australia and retail workers in the state assaulted or abused more than anywhere else in the country.

South Australian Independent Retailers chief executive Colin Shearing says more than 22,000 shoplifting reports have been made to police since March 2022, representing a 20 per cent increase.

“They’re becoming quite professionalised in their approach to organising the crime,” Mr Shearing said.

“There’s total organised crime out there.

“They are quite sophisticated in what they do.

“It’s not like it was decades ago with the chain gangs.”

South Australian Independent Retailers chief executive Colin Shearing said shoplifting has become an organised crime “epidemic”. Picture: Matt Loxton

It comes as new figures reveal South Australian retail workers are being assaulted or abused more than employees anywhere else in the country.

In a Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association survey found 88 per cent of South Australian retail workers reported being verbally assaulted or abused in the past 12 months, with 60 per cent reporting the abuse occurred monthly.

The figure places South Australia ahead of the national average of 87 per cent, with 13 per cent of SA workers reporting physical violence in the past year and 9 per cent reporting they had been spat on.

SDA SA branch secretary Josh Peak said the majority of assaults occurred when retail workers tried to stop shoplifting.

SDA SA branch secretary Josh Peak said the majority of assaults occurred when retail workers tried to stop shoplifting. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“Overwhelmingly the reporting that’s being provided to us is that as we’re seeing shoplifting increase, which all major retailers are reporting increases in shoplifting over the last 12 months, and that’s driving an increase in abuse and assault towards workers who in many cases are trying to do the right thing and prevent people from stealing from their stores,” Mr Peak said.

The retail sector is one of the state’s biggest employers with more than 90,000 workers across South Australia.

Mr Shearing said reports of aggression had also increased in recent months.

“These incidents of shop theft, we’re seeing increased physical incidents as well,” he said.

The industry concerns come after SA Police on Friday revealed almost 40 people had been arrested as part of Operation Measure, an operation targeting shoplifting in Rundle Mall, with more than $18,000 worth of stolen goods recovered during the two-day crackdown last week.

Police arrested 39 people during the operation and reported an additional 45 for theft.

Officers also apprehended 20 people wanted in relation to previous theft offences, including a 29-year-old Adelaide man, charged with two counts of theft, who was wanted for a robbery in Rundle Mall last week.

Another 29-year-old Adelaide man was arrested on Wednesday and charged with theft and breaching bail before being rearrested on Thursday after police allegedly found him in a store trying to remove security tags with bolt cutters.

Police recovered more than $18,000 worth of stolen goods during Operation Measure, including luxury clothing, fragrances, toys and electronics. Picture: SA Police

Items stolen included luxury clothing, fragrances, toys, electronics and groceries.

Operation Measure co-ordinator Inspector Julian Coram said relationships built between police and retailers since the operation launched in March 2022 allowed officers to identify offenders and offending patterns quickly.

“Working together means that we are able to achieve positive outcomes and hold offenders to account,” he said.

Romeo’s Foodland Rundle Mall store manager Teri Spiriadis said thousands of dollars worth of goods were stolen from the supermarket monthly.

“It’s constant,” she said.

“They will walk straight through the checkout without paying.”

Ms Spiriadis said large groups of shoplifters targeted the store when security guards were not on shift.

“There’s really nothing we can do,” she said.

Mr Shearing praised police and called for blanket penalties for all theft offences regardless of the value of items stolen.

Romeos Foodland Rundle Mall manager Teri Spiriadis said shoplifting at the supermarket was “constant". Picture: Morgan Sette

“If someone wants to steal an item from your store it should be treated as if it’s a $1000 item,” he said.

“It should be more than a slap on the wrist.

“It should be dealt with by the full force of the law.”

He said shoplifters were using “swarming”, a tactic where large groups are co-ordinated through social media to hit stores.

“They do it in droves and the poor old owner and the staff can’t do anything about it,” he said.

“This is another phenomenon we’re seeing out there.”

Mr Shearing praised police but called on the community to address the issue.

“The community needs to have a good look at itself about the behaviour that’s going on out there because this belongs to the community,” he said.

“It’s everyone’s issue.”

South Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Ross Womersley said cost of living pressures also contributed to shoplifting.

“Of course there are pressures and in some instances some people will … feel so desperate that they might actually steal food on occasions,” Mr Womersley said.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that the pressure, particularly on those households that are on very low and modest incomes, have been enormous.”

Originally published as South Australian Independent Retailers warns shoplifters committing more ‘organised’ and ‘sophisticated’ crimes as worker assaults soar