Victoria has recorded the highest rate of retail crime in Australia, with 26.3 offences reported daily, according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency data for the year ending June 2026. This total equates to 96,008 offences at Victorian retail locations, including a record 37,398 theft offences and 5,120 assaults, marking a significant concern for businesses and government ahead of the state election scheduled for November 28.
Chris Garnaut, a prominent shopping centre property developer and financial adviser whose Fawkner Property controls a $5 billion mall portfolio, described Victoria as a “criminal’s dream state.” He highlighted that theft rates in his shopping centres are 50 percent higher than in other states. Garnaut cited concerns over the judicial system’s handling of retail crime, accusing authorities of failing to charge offenders or allowing them to avoid convictions, with bail often extended even in cases of repeat offending.
Billionaire retailer Solomon Lew echoed these concerns, describing the current retail crime environment as the worst he has experienced in six decades. Lew recounted incidents such as expensive items being secured with additional security tags to deter theft, underscoring the severity of the problem. Meanwhile, Woolworths’ head of violence prevention pointed to the weakening of anti-retail crime laws in Victoria as a factor exposing supermarket staff to frequent harassment and violence.
Industry leaders have called for stronger legislative measures. Myer executive chair Olivia Wirth emphasized that retail crime is a top priority for the sector and pointed to Queensland’s enforcement strategies as potential models for Victoria. Wirth urged the Victorian government to take concrete steps to reduce retail crime, particularly in metropolitan Melbourne, which she identified as a significant hotspot.
Similarly, former Bunnings CEO Mike Schneider criticized recent changes to Victoria’s workplace protection orders, describing them as a missed opportunity to better protect retail workers. Schneider outlined how other jurisdictions, such as South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, have implemented more practical legislation that acts as a deterrent by preventing offenders from entering retail premises while court processes are underway. Bunnings reported that 54 percent of death or harm threats and weapon-related incidents in retail occurred in Victoria, which also accounted for 36 percent of repeat offender incidents.
Statistics show the state’s retail crime problem remains acute despite a population smaller than New South Wales by roughly 1.5 million. Victoria experienced 102 store thefts daily, compared to around 90 in New South Wales. The Crime Statistics Agency’s figures represent the second-highest total of retail offences in the past decade.
Retailers nationwide have expressed increasing frustration over the impact of the crime surge on workers, customers, and business viability. Some have adopted investment strikes or raised demands for better security and enforcement. As Victoria heads towards its November election, the issue of retail crime is expected to remain a critical topic in public and political discourse.