Victoria remains the national focal point for retail crime, with shoplifting, gang-related theft, and threats of violence towards retail workers continuing to escalate, according to the latest data and industry reports. Despite an overall decline in retail-related criminal incidents, the state is grappling with a rise in harassment, intimidation, and attacks on retail staff, prompting renewed calls for the introduction of workplace protection orders.

Data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows that criminal incidents at Victorian retail locations decreased by 5.7 percent in the year ending March 2026. However, incidents involving stalking, harassment, and threatening behaviour increased by 10.1 percent during the same period, rising from 414 to 456 cases. Since 2022, these types of incidents have surged nearly 35 percent.

The figures also reveal a significant number of violent offences, with 4,823 assault and related offences recorded at retail sites across Victoria over the past year. The Australian Retail Council (ARC) and retail executives say these figures underscore an urgent need for stronger protections for retail workers, many of whom are facing daily abuse and violence.

Chris Rodwell, CEO of the Australian Retail Council, emphasized that while targeted policing has had some impact, worker safety remains a major concern. He pointed to the rise in threatening behaviour and assaults as evidence that Victoria lags behind other states in protecting retail employees. Rodwell called on the Victorian government to adopt workplace protection orders—legal measures already in use in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory—which can offer immediate and longer-term safeguards against repeat offenders.

Coles experienced recent violent incidents firsthand. In Melbourne’s Central Business District earlier in June, two separate events within an hour involved individuals threatening security staff, one brandishing a knife and attempting to leave without paying. The second incident escalated into a physical confrontation, resulting in a security guard sustaining a broken leg. Police and centre security promptly intervened and arrested the suspects.

Coles chief executive Leah Weckert has previously highlighted how organised crime gangs are targeting supermarkets, particularly in Victoria, to steal products such as meat for resale in restaurants. Other retail leaders have pointed to a spectrum of crimes from petty shoplifting to large-scale coordinated theft, often linked to organised groups selling stolen goods on the black market.

Chris McKellar, Coles state manager, urged the Victorian government to act swiftly, noting that despite significant investments in security measures and staff training, retail operators cannot resolve the problem without legislative support. Woolworths’ head of violence prevention Sarah Faorlin echoed this sentiment, noting ongoing violence against team members and the lack of nationwide adoption of workplace protection orders. She cited data from the ACT, where such orders have reduced reoffending by 92 percent among repeat offenders.

Retail bodies argue that Victoria should follow the example set by NSW, South Australia, and the ACT by implementing a permanent, statewide retail crime response focused on worker safety. As retail workers continue to face increasing risks on the job, calls for legislative action are intensifying amid ongoing concerns about the safety and wellbeing of staff across the state’s shopping centres and stores.