DUBLIN — Retailers across Ireland are urgently calling for the government to implement a new plan to tackle rising rates of shoplifting and the abuse of retail workers. The appeal comes amid new data showing a significant increase in retail crime, prompting businesses to seek more effective deterrents and support.
According to data from the Central Statistics Office, “theft from shop” incidents increased by 3% in the year to March, with nearly 33,000 recorded cases nationwide. Provisional Garda figures for the first half of the year indicate an even sharper rise in the Dublin region, where shop thefts are up by 7%. Gardaà reported over 8,000 incidents of shop theft in the first three months of this year alone, leading to nearly 2,000 arrests and more than 4,750 charges or summonses.
The Programme for Government previously pledged a dedicated Retail Crime Strategy, and the Minister of State for Retail, Alan Dillon, has stated the government aims to publish the plan within the first three months of next year.
Retail crime is not just a financial issue, which the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association estimates costs retailers over €1.62 billion annually. Businesses are also reporting a worrying increase in verbal and physical abuse against staff.
Richard Nolan, the managing director of a family-run supermarket in Dublin, has witnessed the full scale of the problem firsthand. He stated that shoplifting is “certainly on the rise” and that the abuse of his workers has “gotten worse.” Nolan highlighted a rise in organized retail crime, where groups are “dropped into an area” to steal as much as possible in the shortest amount of time, often acting “with impunity” due to a lack of effective deterrents.
In response to the growing threat, companies like Circle K are taking matters into their own hands. The company is rolling out anti-aggression systems in its forecourt and convenience stores. The system allows staff to activate a warning message over a speaker, alerting would-be criminals that CCTV cameras are in operation and that Gardaà have been notified. The cameras are linked to a central control center where staff can monitor the footage and assist store workers.
Mark Gannon, Circle K’s Head of Health, Safety and Environment, said the company has “definitely seen an increase in harassment and threat towards our colleagues” since the Covid-19 pandemic. He emphasized the need for a stronger Garda presence on the streets, particularly in suburbs and rural areas, as it “really deters crime.” He also called for more effective deterrents in the justice system, saying that current measures are not strong enough.
Arnold Dillon, the Director of Retail Ireland, echoed these concerns, describing the combination of shoplifting and abuse as a “critical issue.” He urged for the Retail Crime Strategy to be delivered by the end of this year to provide much-needed support for affected businesses and their employees.
