Based in Auckland, Auror supplies reporting software to major retailers in New Zealand and more than 50,000 stores globally.
In New Zealand, data indicated a 12 per cent decrease in weapon use, a 6 per cent reduction in violent events, and a 6 per cent reduction in threatening incidents compared to the same period in 2024.
Phil Thomson, CEO of Auror, highlighted the ongoing impact of retail crime and the positive trends emerging in New Zealand.
"While both violent and non-violent crime targeting retailers remains a significant problem, we are now seeing retailers record fewer incidents involving weapons, violence and threats of violence," he said.
"This is an important milestone in the work being done to get on top of this issue as a country, and shows New Zealand is leading the way."
Auror attributed the decline to enhanced reporting and greater collaboration between retailers and police, supported by technology adoption.
"These figures have been achieved through early adoption of technology by Kiwi retailers and Police to surface the historically underreported issue of retail crime and the fresh focus from government and Police on dealing with retail crime," Thomson said.
"The challenge now is to drive it down, including for smaller retailers, through continued policy, policing, and focus on technology."
Conversely, data from Australia identified increases in threatening behaviour, weapon use, and violent incidents. These findings follow a recent report from the Crime Statistics Agency, revealing that almost 100,000 incidents occurred in retail stores in Victoria over the past year.
Australian Retailers Association CEO Chris Rodwell said this is a deeply confronting issue impacting communities across the state.
“This new data confirms what our members have been telling us for some time,” Rodwell said.
“Around nine in ten Australians visit a retailer weekly or more often, and almost two in three either work in retail or have a close friend or family member who does. This is happening in suburban shopping centres, regional towns and CBDs alike, and the impact is being felt right across the community.”
The CSA figures suggest retail crime is an elevated issue in Victoria, with total retail offences increasing 11 per cent year-on-year, including a 13 per cent rise in theft and a 14 per cent rise in assaults.
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