MELBOURNE, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026: After the recent crime wave in the state, the Victoria Police is to target crime ‘head-on’. The upward trend in crime stats, with 41,775 retail thefts recorded – a slight increase on 41,756 retail theft offences for the previous year. Theft of alcohol accounts for more than a third of all items stolen from retail stores.
Police intelligence shows retail crime is increasingly driven by repeat offenders, with 54 per cent of offenders responsible for ongoing and organised offending across retail settings. Retail environments remain a common location for crime in Victoria, exposing workers — many of whom are young and early in their working lives — to repeated incidents of theft, aggression, intimidation, and violence.
The crime wave has taken a political turn with the opposition raising the issue repeatedly and the November state elections not far away. At the recent Premier’s community roundtable the issue was raised vocally and the Premier assured to do the needful.
“Crime Stoppers Victoria and Victoria Police have joined forces to launch a new statewide campaign aimed at disrupting retail crime, following continued increases in incidents and growing concern for the safety and wellbeing of retail workers across Victoria”, says a Crime Stoppers media release today.
The campaign, The Real Cost of Retail Crime, encourages Victorians to report information about crime occurring in retail settings and repeat offenders, while shining a light on the harm experienced by retail frontline workers, businesses, and local communities.
The new campaign builds on the success of previous Crime Stoppers Victoria retail crime initiatives and focuses on two key actions: improving crime reporting and increasing community awareness of the true impact of retail crime. Using CCTV imagery and information, the campaign highlights unsolved incidents and persons of interest to prompt public reporting and help police investigations.
Crime Stoppers Victoria Chief Executive Stella Smith said retail crime continues to be underestimated, despite its serious and lasting impact. “Retail crime deeply affects victims,” Ms Smith said. “Behind every theft are workers and customers who may experience fear, abuse, and repeated exposure to harm.
“Retail workers have a right to feel safe at work, just as customers have a right to feel safe in the places they shop,” she said. “Persistent and repeat offending causes significant harm and should not be accepted.”
Victoria Police Commander Melissa Webbers said retail theft is often mistakenly dismissed as low-level offending, despite the harm it causes.
“Retail crime is not a victimless crime. It affects the worker behind the counter, the business owner trying to make a living and ultimately every member of the community who pays the price,” she said.
The Real Cost of Retail Crime campaign encourages Victorians to remain alert, recognise suspicious behaviour and report information that may assist police in preventing repeat offending and escalation into more serious crime.
Victorians can share what they know about retail crime or suspicious activity online at crimestoppersvic.com.au or by calling 1800 333 000. Reports can be made anonymously.
