Victoria crime rate falls despite record retail theft

New data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) shows that Victoria’s overall crime rate fell by 3.8 per cent in the 12 months leading to June 30, marking the first decrease since 2022. The total number of recorded offences dropped by 2.1 per cent. This decline was largely driven by a reduction in burglaries and other theft offences, leading to a 7.6 per cent fall in the victimisation rate.

However, retail theft has reached record levels. There were 37,398 recorded offences of stealing from a retail store, a 2.3 per cent increase that averages approximately 102 thefts per day. Shoplifting offences specifically rose by 2.7 per cent, with grocery items seeing the highest increase.

Industry representatives, including the Pet Industry Association of Australia and the Australian Retail Council, noted that cost-of-living pressures may be contributing to the rise in theft. Retailers reported that while small, high-value items remain targets, there is an increasing trend of theft involving larger or bulkier goods. Some businesses are instructing staff not to intervene during thefts due to concerns over police response times and the consequences for repeat offenders.