New data has revealed Victoria is the retail crime capital of Australia. Retail theft across Victoria jumped almost 90 per cent last year, according to Victoria's Crime Statistics Agency. Click through to see which suburbs are driving the surge.
Melbourne's CBD is the state's retail theft capital, according to the data. The City of Melbourne recorded 2244 incidences of retail theft last year, up from 1264 the year before. Collins Street's luxury Dior store has been the victim of repeat burglaries recently, including on March 6 when the store was rammed and high-end items were stolen .
The northern Melbourne suburb of Preston has the second highest rate of shoplifting in Victoria, according to 2024 data. There were 814 recorded instances of retail theft in the suburb last year. In December, AFL legend Saverio Rocca chased down an alleged thief at Northland Shopping Centre, after he caught him taking items from a shop without paying.
Dandenong in Melbourne's south-east recorded the third highest number of retail thefts last year. About 760 alleged offences took place at stores in the suburb, including a shop in Dandenong South, where an estimated $5000 worth of goods were allegedly taken on February 25. CCTV footage from the RedShed Superstore captured a worker trying to stop the alleged thief from taking chainsaws before escaping in a waiting car.
According to experts, retail crime is being driven by the cost-of-living crisis and crime syndicates. Police say rep.
