Ritchies IGA warns escalating retail violence could force store closures in Victoria

Ritchies IGA is considering closing several outlets after a surge in violent, often armed, thefts in Victoria that the supermarket's chief executive says has made trading unsafe and unprofitable in parts of the state.

Fred Harrison told ABC's 7.30 that unprecedented levels of violence, including incidents involving knives and other weapons, had pushed retail crime in Victoria to a "crisis point." He said the pressure on staff safety and store finances had led some franchisees to contemplate exiting the business.

"People are making decisions to exit the business because there's that much theft that it is impacting their bottom line, and you can't expect retailers to remain trading and lose money," Harrison said. "Is it all-round more profitable, safer, if we just close and walk away?" He said Ritchies operates 85 stores across Australia, 52 of which are in Victoria, and that Victorian outlets accounted for "95 per cent" of the problems the company was facing.

Incidents involving other major retail chains have underlined the scope of the problem. Bunnings released CCTV footage late last year showing staff threatened with knives and a shotgun and customers harassing or assaulting employees. In one clip, a man appears to hold a knife to a staff member's throat; other footage showed staff being sucker-punched, shoved or manhandled. Olivia, a Bunnings store manager who has worked at the hardware chain for 20 years, told the ABC that violence had become a routine part of her workday, with local gangs regularly entering stores with weapons and stealing large items.

Retailers have deployed a range of security and safety measures in response. Bunnings has introduced body-worn cameras for staff and security guards. Woolworths has created a role titled Head of Acts of Violence and Aggression, and staff at the supermarket giant may wear body-worn cameras and undertake de-escalation training using virtual reality headsets.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics data cited by retailers and industry groups point to rising retail crime nationwide. Police-recorded personal and retail theft reached a 21-year high in 2023, with 595,660 victims of personal and retail theft recorded — an increase of 6 percent from the previous year. Victoria recorded 169,673 victims of personal and retail theft in 2024, a rise of 29 percent year on year.

Harrison said the pattern of more brazen thefts emerged "in the wake of the Covid pandemic," with offenders increasingly comfortable entering stores during daylight hours to take goods. He warned that sustained losses from theft were not a sustainable business model for independent franchisees and could lead to further closures if conditions do not improve.

The prospect of shuttered supermarkets raises questions about access to groceries in affected communities and the broader economic impact on franchise owners and employees. Industry advocates have called for co-ordinated responses involving retailers, law enforcement and policymakers to address organized theft, the protection of staff and the recovery of stolen goods.

Daily Mail reported the company comments and has contacted Bunnings and Ritchies IGA for further comment. The rising figures in official crime data strengthen calls from some retailers for more resources and legislative responses to stem what they describe as an escalation in violent retail offending that threatens staff safety and the viability of some operations in Victoria.