Retail theft and assaults have skyrocketed across Victoria, with organised crime syndicates responsible for the spike, police say.
Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers are teaming up to crackdown on repeat offenders they say are responsible for 70 per cent of offences.
Some sticky-fingered offenders have been caught more than 100 times for stealing from shops.
“Retail crime costs us all, we’re focusing on repeat offenders,” Crime Stoppers Victoria chief executive Stella Smith said.
Thefts have jumped more than 32 per cent, with assaults linked to this offending rising by 12 per cent.
“Workers have been threatened with machetes, told the person has a gun. That’s scary for workers,” Smith said.
Police also say there’s a misconception that the economic crisis is fuelling the rise. Instead, police believe many criminals are stealing to fund organised crime.
Detective Superintendent Geri Porter said: “They will be tasked to go into shops, whether it’s for clothing, alcohol, but they’ll go in, select products they’ll take back to a particular group and on sell.”
These intricate rackets mean close to 70 per cent of retail crimes are committed by the same offenders.
Retail crime is costing the industry $9 billion every year.
Crime Stoppers has a page dedicated to repeat offenders online, and reports can be made anonymously.
