Retail crime in Victoria remains a persistent and growing challenge, with new Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) data released today showing offences in retail settings continuing to rise.
There were 95,181 criminal incidents recorded in retail locations in the year to 31 December 2025, making retail the third most common location for crime, behind only streets and private dwellings. This represents a 1.1% increase on 2024 (94,143 incidents) and a 25.7% increase over the past decade (75,709 incidents in 2016).
Retail theft continues to drive the trend, with stealing from retail stores rising 16.7% (+2,953) to 20,615 alleged offender incidents in the past 12 months. Violence and threatening behaviour in retail environments also increased:
- Assault in retail stores rose 5.1% to 5,357 incidents (up from 5,099 in 2024)
- Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour in retail increased 12.8% to 687 incidents (up from 609 in 2024), and is up 65.9% over the past decade (414 in 2016)
- Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people in retail settings increased 8.5% to 460 incidents (up from 424 in 2024)
Across the state, total criminal incidents increased 4.0% to 473,262, the highest level on record since 2004.
Australian Retail Council CEO Chris Rodwell said the data shows that while recent steps by the Victorian Government are welcome, retail crime remains a serious and deteriorating problem for the state.
“The trend is clear. Retail crime unfortunately continues to escalate in Victoria. It is persistent, it is widespread, and it continues to put frontline workers and customers at risk,” he said.
Mr Rodwell said the upcoming introduction of Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs) will be a critical next step.
“The Victorian Government has committed to implementing Workplace Protection Orders by April. These orders have the potential to materially improve safety for retail workers and customers, and we stand ready to work constructively with government to ensure they are rolled out as quickly and effectively as possible.
“Stronger enforcement measures are needed to address repeat offending and improve consistency across jurisdictions. Recent measures, including increased police and PSO presence at high-risk shopping centres, are a step in the right direction, but there is a clear case for a permanent, statewide retail crime taskforce in Victoria, similar to models already in place in New South Wales and South Australia,” said Mr Rodwell.
“We also need nationally consistent rules around the use of facial recognition technology, so it can be deployed safely, with appropriate privacy safeguards, to identify high-harm repeat offenders and prevent them from entering stores. ARC stands ready to work with the Privacy Commissioner to ensure we have practical guidelines that can support reducing the level of retail crime across the nation,” said Mr Rodwell.