**“Put it back, mate!”: Why Shoplifting in Australia Has Turned Nasty**
Australia’s retail crime has shifted dramatically—from what was once garden-variety mischief to a full-blown menace. Wesfarmers, the owner of well-known brands such as Bunnings, Kmart, Target, Officeworks, and Priceline, recently informed investors that its teams faced more than 13,500 threats and over 1,000 assaults in the past year. Several hundred of these incidents involved weapons.
In response, stores have ramped up security measures, including the use of body-worn cameras and de-escalation training. Retailers argue the rise in shoplifting, retail violence, and organised retail crime is no longer just a minor loss-prevention issue but a frontline safety concern.
### What’s Changed on the Shop Floor?
Retail staff describe a grim and simple pattern: more aggressive behaviour, more repeat offenders, and an increase in thefts involving everyday items with high resale value such as razors, baby formula, and meat. Wesfarmers has noted a sharp increase in serious violent incidents at Bunnings, while threatening behaviour across the Kmart Group has also climbed.
This shift aligns with police and industry reports describing a move from opportunistic stealing to organised, repeat offending. Retailers are exploring technological solutions to combat this trend. However, the debate is complex. For example, the privacy regulator found that Bunnings breached privacy laws last year due to earlier uses of facial recognition technology, highlighting the delicate balance between ensuring staff safety and protecting civil liberties.
### Victoria: The Pressure Point
Victoria stands out as a significant hotspot. According to the state’s Crime Statistics Agency, criminal incidents are at record highs, partly driven by theft. Public data and police briefings indicate a small group of repeat offenders causing a large proportion of the damage, with retail theft rising by roughly 25% year-on-year.
Retail bodies have called for a dedicated retail-crime police taskforce and tougher penalties. They argue that retail theft in Victoria has evolved into a system-level issue rather than an isolated problem confined to shoplifting.
On the ground, retail workers point to flashpoints such as self-checkouts, refund counters, and closing hours. Managers emphasise that their priority is keeping people safe first and protecting stock second, leading to an increase in security guards at high-risk locations and clearer “no-go” policies for banned customers.
Investors have taken note as well—the issue was prominent enough at Wesfarmers’ Annual General Meeting to make national headlines.
### How the UK Compares
In the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded 529,994 shoplifting offences in the year to June 2025—up 13% on the previous year. Business groups have labelled this trend a “retail crime crisis.”
Britain has responded with a national strategy, including increased neighbourhood police officers, creating an offence specifically for assaulting retail workers, and providing guidance to law enforcement on consistent shop theft policing.
By contrast, Australia is still addressing retail crime on a state-by-state basis. Industry groups are pushing for a clearer national approach towards assaulting retail workers and dealing with serial shoplifters.
The direction in both countries is similar; however, the UK has so far moved more swiftly to standardise its response.
### Bottom Line
“Retail crime” now means much more than a sneaky “five-finger discount.” For many Australian shop floors, it means threats, assaults, and organised criminal crews. Practical solutions may not be flashy but are essential: consistent penalties for assaults on retail workers, targeted policing of repeat offenders, and technology that aids security without infringing on privacy rights.
Until these measures are fully implemented, retail workers are likely to keep hearing the same weary plea at the checkout: **“Put it back, mate!”**
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*“Put it back, mate!”: why shoplifting in Australia’s turned nasty* was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/put-back-mate-why-shoplifting-091439587.html
