Retail NZ’s COMS Retail Crime Report 2024 found that 99 per cent of participants in a recent survey had experienced some form of retail crime or anti-social behaviour over the past year – more than 140,000 incidents across 1,500 stores.
Even more concerning was that almost 40 per cent of these crimes were not reported to the police. Participants provided various explanations, such as it not being worth the time and effort, the offending being discovered too late, and concerns that the police wouldn’t do anything.
“In this latest survey, we focused on identifying the actual level of retail crime in New Zealand, confirming that it is much higher than official statistics show,” CEO Carolyn Young explained.
“Every day, retailers are dealing with threatening, violent or simply unpleasant customers, who are trying to steal or damage their property. Almost every retail worker has been affected by crime and aggression, which is traumatic for those directly involved and their colleagues.”
The report's data reveal an increase in retail theft of 25 per cent. On a more positive note, aggravated robbery declined by 10 per cent. Young said that retailers should report all incidents to the police to ensure the data is accurate.
“This is essential to enable police to track the full extent of retail crime, ensuring that they can assign appropriate resources and keep track of repeat offenders,” she said.
“Full reporting also enables policymakers and the government to see the full scale of retail crime, and implement appropriate policies and support to the sector.”
The report estimated that retail crime in New Zealand costs more than $2.5 billion annually.
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