NSW shoplifting surges 10.6% in two years as cost of living bites
Shoplifting reports in NSW have jumped 10.6% over two years to up to 90 incidents per day, while other crime has fallen.
Retail theft is the only crime climbing in NSW. Figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show a 10.6% rise over two years.
Police now respond to about up to 90 shoplifting reports daily. Former NSW Police Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow linked the surge to cost of living.
When prices rise, theft rises. This is especially true for high-cost items like alcohol, petrol and consumer goods.
Staffing cuts in stores add to the problem. Shops reduce security to draw online shoppers back, making theft easier.
Police arrest rates for shoplifting have jumped 26%. But resource pressure limits foot patrols.
Officers now focus on organised gangs stealing bulk items like baby formula and alcohol to resell. Retail theft costs the economy A$9 billion annually.
That cost flows back to shoppers as higher prices and increased security costs.
- 10.6% over two years
- Shoplifting increase
- up to 90 per day
- Daily incidents
- 26%
- Arrest rate increase
- A$9 billion
- Annual economic loss
Why it mattersRising shoplifting drains store budgets and police resources, and the cost feeds back to consumers through higher prices.
AustraliaNSW shoppers pay more due to theft-driven price rises, and police face tighter resource constraints managing the crime wave.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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