The COMS Retail Crime Report 2024, released by Retail NZ, found that 99% of respondents — representing more than 1,500 stores and online retailers across the country — experienced some form of retail crime or anti-social behaviour. In total, 140,746 incidents were recorded, ranging from shoplifting and credit card fraud to threatening behaviour, criminal damage and physical assault.
Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young said the findings confirmed that retail crime is far more widespread than official statistics suggest.
“There are a range of reasons why nearly 40% of crimes were not reported to Police,” Young said. “These include the value of the goods being too low to pursue, incidents being discovered too late, retailers dealing with it directly, or concerns that Police would not act.”
Young said retail crime is not only affecting businesses financially but is also creating a serious health and safety issue for retail workers.
“Every day, retailers are dealing with threatening, violent or unpleasant behaviour. Almost every retail worker has been impacted by crime and aggression, which is traumatic for those directly involved and their colleagues,” she said.
Retail NZ’s 2023 report estimated the cost of retail crime at around $2.6 billion a year — a burden that affects not only retailers but also consumers and the wider economy.
“This latest survey confirms the true scale of the problem, showing that retail crime is significantly higher than previously recorded,” Young said.
Retail NZ is urging all businesses to report every incident to Police, regardless of the scale.
“This is essential to help Police allocate resources, track repeat offenders and to allow Government to respond with the right policies and support,” Young said.
COMS Systems Director Paul Andrew said the rise in shoplifting and aggressive customer behaviour is damaging not only to business profitability but also to staff wellbeing.
However, he said there is growing support within the sector for adopting facial recognition technology (FRT) as a tool to prevent retail crime.
“Embracing technology is essential — it’s the future, and it’s here to stay,” Andrew said.
In the past year, several measures have been introduced to counter retail crime, including Foodstuffs North Island’s successful trial of FRT, the creation of the Ministerial Advisory Group for retail crime victims — of which Young is a member — and the deployment of new Police Community Beat Teams in towns and cities across the country. Stronger sentencing legislation has also been enacted.
Retail NZ has formed a working group of major retailers to develop a unified approach to prevention, including legislative reform and the rollout of crime prevention technology.
Broadcaster Chris Lynch is an award winning journalist who also produces Christchurch news and video content for domestic and international companies. This article was originally published by Chris Lynch Media and is published here with kind permission.
“There are a range of reasons why nearly 40% of crimes were not reported to Police,” Young said. “These include the value of the goods being too low to pursue, incidents being discovered too late, retailers dealing with it directly, or concerns that Police would not act.”
Young said retail crime is not only affecting businesses financially but is also creating a serious health and safety issue for retail workers.
“Every day, retailers are dealing with threatening, violent or unpleasant behaviour. Almost every retail worker has been impacted by crime and aggression, which is traumatic for those directly involved and their colleagues,” she said.
Retail NZ’s 2023 report estimated the cost of retail crime at around $2.6 billion a year — a burden that affects not only retailers but also consumers and the wider economy.
“This latest survey confirms the true scale of the problem, showing that retail crime is significantly higher than previously recorded,” Young said.
Retail NZ is urging all businesses to report every incident to Police, regardless of the scale.
“This is essential to help Police allocate resources, track repeat offenders and to allow Government to respond with the right policies and support,” Young said.
COMS Systems Director Paul Andrew said the rise in shoplifting and aggressive customer behaviour is damaging not only to business profitability but also to staff wellbeing.
However, he said there is growing support within the sector for adopting facial recognition technology (FRT) as a tool to prevent retail crime.
“Embracing technology is essential — it’s the future, and it’s here to stay,” Andrew said.
In the past year, several measures have been introduced to counter retail crime, including Foodstuffs North Island’s successful trial of FRT, the creation of the Ministerial Advisory Group for retail crime victims — of which Young is a member — and the deployment of new Police Community Beat Teams in towns and cities across the country. Stronger sentencing legislation has also been enacted.
Retail NZ has formed a working group of major retailers to develop a unified approach to prevention, including legislative reform and the rollout of crime prevention technology.
Broadcaster Chris Lynch is an award winning journalist who also produces Christchurch news and video content for domestic and international companies. This article was originally published by Chris Lynch Media and is published here with kind permission.
4 comments:
I would have thought 400% or even 4000%nearer the mark. Every time my local supermarket turns back a customer trolley I am sure they do not report to Police. I had a bag lifted from my bike; from the video the shop stopped the person with it. With no names exchanged and nothing taken would not have been reported as an incident.
It would be interesting to calculate the effect of all the pilfering on the Cost of Living. How many dollars that we spend at the shops are to make up for goods that have been stolen?
Why would anyone even bother reporting a theft to the NZ police? Other than perhaps a vehicle, just so you don't get lumped by a speeding camera fine.
Theres no point calling the police and being told they no longer have the resources to deal with any crimes other than violent offences.
Traffic enforcement or at a traffic incident is about the only time you might see a police officer as they are generating income via fines.
Once in while the government might trot them out on-mass to either dance with or beat up a protest group, depending upon which ticks the popularity vote.
Other than that, there's not much else under the uniform.
Your only form of self-preservation these days is to have a constant situational awareness and avoidance strategy.
According to Mitre Ten when someone walks out of the shop with a couple of power tools under their arms there is nothing they can do about it . They are just recorded on surveillance cameras and their photo is posted up on a rogues gallery near the entrance .
But then what can you expect in a secular society with a secular education system that has no emphasis on morality anymore ?
We also have now an education system that fails to teach literacy and numeracy effectively which produces criminals and those who can only ever aspire to have low paying jobs or join a gang.
Social reformers in the past worked out educating everyone , well academically particularly in the basics meant a reduction in crime and encouraged equity as well. The current ideology adhered to in education , in my opinion is the producer of criminals. Today Dave Armstrong in 'The Post 'writes that school should be fun not 'drudgery' learning structured literacy and numeracy which have proved, by research and science, to be the most effective methods. His dad was the old head of the teachers' training college in Wellington . Need I say more except - perpetuation of generational entrenched ideology that appeals to MSM.
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