Gwynneville Post Office hit by three shoplifts in two weeks
Three people stole items from Gwynneville Post Office in two weeks, damaging the owner's confidence in the business.
Nathan Haynes says each theft hurts. During the past two weeks, three people have allegedly walked into Gwynneville Post Office and Lotteries, picked up an item in full view of eight CCTV cameras, and walked out without paying.
The alleged thefts involved relatively low-cost items: a greeting card, gift bag, toy, Star Wars memorabilia and Blu Tack. Haynes reported them to police but chose not to post the footage online.
In the Illawarra, retail theft rose 2.2 per cent in the 12 months to March 2026, reaching 1475 incidents, about four per day. In NSW, liquor theft jumped 13 per cent and clothing theft 17 per cent.
Small business margins are tight, Haynes said, and each incident wears down his confidence.
- 2.2 per cent in 12 months to March 2026
- Retail theft rise in Illawarra
- About 4 per day
- Daily theft incidents in Illawarra
- 17 per cent in same period
- NSW clothing theft increase
Why it mattersShoplifting damages small retailers harder than big chains, because they cannot absorb the losses.
AustraliaThe Illawarra reflects a growing retail theft problem across NSW that is hitting family-run shops hardest during a cost-of-living crisis.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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