Brave Kmart worker confronts alleged thieves in carpark showdown
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From shoplifting to vandalism and related offences, crime has risen in Australia since the onset of the pandemic, with statistics from the past year confirming this grim reality.
The retail sector is one such area that has seen a growing problem with crime, particularly with theft.
Recently, a brave Kmart worker risked her own safety when she caught alleged thieves red-handed pilfering store goods.
Video footage from outside a shopping centre in Adelaide's north shows the woman intercepting two people apparently attempting to steal a huge trolley of goods and products.
It was a brazen attempt; appliance boxes, homewares, kitchen appliances and clothing were stacked in the trolley as one of the women attempted to pack the items into her car before the staffer's intervention.
The worker chased them to their car and demanded they return the stolen products.
'You can tell everyone that comes and steals: enough's enough!' she shouted, as the thieves reluctantly handed back the trolley contents.
The goods were returned to Kmart, though it is unclear whether the thieves managed to slip off some unpaid items or if the pair have faced any charges.
Whether due to shoppers’ greater reliance on online stores, or the economic crisis pushing people to do desperate things to feed their families, retailers are facing unprecedented levels of theft.
Just this year, Coles announced 20 per cent stock losses from shoplifting, including food waste, as it revealed a $1.1 billion profit, while Woolworths estimated a quarter of stock loss from theft when it profited $1.6 billion.
A report from Monash Business School’s Australian Consumer and Retail Studies group even pointed out that more than a quarter of Australians think some level of retail theft is justified, particularly with those that use self-checkouts.
As a result of concerns like these, many retail stores have implemented ‘drastic measures’ to protect their customers and employees, from artificial intelligence and high-tech cameras at self-serve checkouts to gates that won’t open in case of a suspected shoplifter.
Those sensible measures, however irksome they can be to innocent shoppers, are all motivated by the immense cost of retail theft across the country: the Australian Retail Association estimates it’s as high as $9 billion a year!
What do you think of this story? Does the Kmart worker deserve an award for her bravery? Let us know in the comments below!
The retail sector is one such area that has seen a growing problem with crime, particularly with theft.
Recently, a brave Kmart worker risked her own safety when she caught alleged thieves red-handed pilfering store goods.
Video footage from outside a shopping centre in Adelaide's north shows the woman intercepting two people apparently attempting to steal a huge trolley of goods and products.
It was a brazen attempt; appliance boxes, homewares, kitchen appliances and clothing were stacked in the trolley as one of the women attempted to pack the items into her car before the staffer's intervention.
The worker chased them to their car and demanded they return the stolen products.
'You can tell everyone that comes and steals: enough's enough!' she shouted, as the thieves reluctantly handed back the trolley contents.
The goods were returned to Kmart, though it is unclear whether the thieves managed to slip off some unpaid items or if the pair have faced any charges.
Whether due to shoppers’ greater reliance on online stores, or the economic crisis pushing people to do desperate things to feed their families, retailers are facing unprecedented levels of theft.
Just this year, Coles announced 20 per cent stock losses from shoplifting, including food waste, as it revealed a $1.1 billion profit, while Woolworths estimated a quarter of stock loss from theft when it profited $1.6 billion.
A report from Monash Business School’s Australian Consumer and Retail Studies group even pointed out that more than a quarter of Australians think some level of retail theft is justified, particularly with those that use self-checkouts.
As a result of concerns like these, many retail stores have implemented ‘drastic measures’ to protect their customers and employees, from artificial intelligence and high-tech cameras at self-serve checkouts to gates that won’t open in case of a suspected shoplifter.
Those sensible measures, however irksome they can be to innocent shoppers, are all motivated by the immense cost of retail theft across the country: the Australian Retail Association estimates it’s as high as $9 billion a year!
Key Takeaways
- A Kmart worker in Adelaide intercepted two alleged thieves attempting to steal a loaded trolley of goods.
- Security footage captured when the employee demanded the pair return the stolen items.
- Major retailers across Australia have reported an increase in theft, leading to the introduction of new surveillance measures.
- Research from Monash Business School’s Australian Consumer and Retail Studies group revealed that more than a quarter of respondents felt retail theft was somewhat justifiable, citing the high cost of living as a dominant factor.
What do you think of this story? Does the Kmart worker deserve an award for her bravery? Let us know in the comments below!