ANZ stores report increasing violence in retail settings over festive period

Australian and New Zealand retailers reported an uptick in violent crime in retail settings using Auror in the lead up to Christmas last year and worryingly, new data shows the trend is continuing this year.

Australian retailers reported 58 per cent more events involving threatening behaviour such as verbal abuse or aggression between 1 November and 24 December in 2023, compared to the year prior, while Kiwi businesses reported a 15 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, serious events such as physical abuse reported in Auror by Australian and New Zealand retailers revealed a 51 per cent and 18 per cent increase respectively..

Unfortunately, this year’s data shows violent retail crime ahead of Christmas is on track to meet or exceed last year’s totals.

Auror Senior Director Trust and Safety Nick Mcdonnell said no one should be  made to feel unsafe at work by these offenders, on top of what is already an incredibly busy time of the year for retailers and police.

“These events are confronting for staff and customers - we’re talking about threats, verbal abuse, physical assault and even using knives, blades or bats,” he said.

“We see this trend globally - threatening behaviour is a tactic used to get out of the store with stolen goods. Offenders know that staff are, rightly, told not to confront aggressive individuals.

“We know that retail crime is often violent and organised - in fact, 10 per cent of offenders cause about 60 per cent of the total harm and loss.”

Two weeks out from Christmas, between 1 November and 10 December 2024, events reported in Auror involving threatening behaviour were already at about 75 per cent of the figure reported for the full festive period last year in both Australia and New Zealand.

Serious behaviour reported in Auror this festive period were again similar for both countries at about 74 per cent of the figure reported during last year’s festive period.

“Many of the people committing these crimes are not opportunistic shoplifters, they are operating in organised networks and  stolen product ends up on the black market as a means of exchange linked to more nefarious crime,” Nick said.

“Organised retail crime is a $150 billion issue globally and while we’ve seen an increase in reported incidents over the festive period, this information will support law enforcement’s work to identify these violent and organised offenders sooner and make our communities safer.”

Data reported by retailers using the Auror platform:

AUSTRALIA

During festive period last year (1 November - 24 December 2023):

• Threatening behaviour involving aggression and verbal abuse reported in Auror increased by 58 per cent, compared to the same period in 2022.
• Serious behaviour involving physical abuse or use of a weapon reported in Auror increased by 51 per cent, compared to the same period in 2022.
• Use of weapons reported in Auror increased by 38 per cent, compared to the same period in 2022.
• Clothing, electrical and lighting items, power tools and fragrances were in the top 10 product categories.

Two weeks from Christmas (from 1 November - 10 December 2024):

• Threatening behaviour reported in Auror from 1 November to 10 December this year was already at 75 per cent of the total figure reported during the 2023 festive period.
• Serious behaviour reported in Auror from 1 November to 10 December this year was already at 74 per cent of the total figure reported during the 2023 festive period.
• Meat, health and beauty, electronics, power tools, alcohol and clothing are in the top 10 reported product categories this year.

NEW ZEALAND

During festive period last year (1 November - 24 December 2023):

• Threatening behaviour involving aggression and verbal abuse reported in Auror increased by 15 per cent, compared to the same period in 2022.
• Serious behaviour involving physical abuse or use of a weapon reported in Auror increased by 18 per cent, compared to the same period in 2022.
• Clothing, electrical and lighting items, power tools and fragrances were in the top 10 product categories.

Two weeks from Christmas 2024 (from 1 November - 10 December 2024):

• Threatening behaviour reported in Auror from 1 November to 10 December this year was already at 74 per cent of the total figure reported during the 2023 festive period.
• Serious behaviour reported in Auror from 1 November to 10 December this year was already at 73 per cent of the total figure reported during the 2023 festive period.
• Meat, clothing, fuel, health and beauty, electrical and lighting items, power tools, electronics and fragrances are in the top 10 reported product categories this year.

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