Ritchies IGA is considering closing down Victorian stores due to rising crime rates, which it says have reached a “crisis point” in the state.

Ritchies IGA chief executive Fred Harrison told 7.30: “It’s getting to a point now where [at] a number of our stores, you’ve got to question when leases come up, do we want to remain in this area? Do we want to remain in this store? Is it all-round more profitable, safer if we just close and walk away?”

Harrison said 95% of the issues the retailer was having were in Victoria.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show theft figures in Australia have reached a 21-year high, with thefts in Victoria up 29% year on year.

ABS head of crime and justice statistics Samantha Hall said: ‘There were 595,660 recorded victims of theft in 2024. These thefts, which includes things like shoplifting and pickpocketing, but not motor vehicle thefts, have been continually rising since a drop during 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions were introduced.

“The largest rise over the past year was in Victoria, up 29%, followed by Tasmania, which rose by 11%. Thefts at retail locations rose from 32% of all thefts in 2010 to 45% in 2024.”

Endeavour Group has increased security at some of its Victorian stores due to crime and violent incidents being more common there than other states.

A spokesperson at Endeavour Group told the Australian Financial Review the retailer had been forced to put high-value goods like spirits and premium wine behind glass and use auto-lock doors in bottle shops to ensure staff feel safe and to deter theft.

Australian Retailers Association CEO Chris Rodwell said: “These numbers reflect what retailers know too well. We are confronting a full-scale retail crime crisis.

“The fear and reality of retail crime is experienced daily. That’s why we’re calling for urgent and decisive action from our political leaders – including Premiers, Police Ministers and Attorneys General – to address this scourge of retail crime. We’ve seen the results when this action has been taken.

“The surge in the past five years underlines the need for the Federal Government to step in and work with the states to ensure a unified and comprehensive approach to tackle retail crime. Communities across the nation deserve nothing less.

“In particular, we need to see workplace protection orders introduced as an urgent priority as they have been in the ACT. We also need to see tougher legislation in place in Victoria and other jurisdictions that are lagging behind best practice. The responsible adoption of technology solutions in retail settings is another part of the solution. Innovations such as body worn cameras and facial recognition technology have been highly effective in retail locations around the world.

“We need to act now. There are far too many innocent victims – team members and customers – across the county. The financial impact on businesses is also unsustainable and ultimately adds to the price at the checkout.”

Escalating crime rocks liquor retailers