New study shows violent crime in shops trebles
Over 90% of retailers were victims of crime in the past 12 months
Print11 June 2013
A new study has revealed that the use of violence in retail crime has almost trebled since 2011. The survey of independent retailers, carried out by representative group RGDATA, reveals that over 90% of retailers were victims of crime in the past 12 months. Violence was used in 28% of these crimes compared to 10% in 2011.
Shop owners said that the violent crimes included the use of guns, knives, hammers and syringes. 60% of retailers said that retail crime was a severe threat to their business in 2012. This has increased significantly since 2011 when just 10% of retailers deemed retail crime to be a "severe threat" to their business.
"Crime is an issue at the forefront of retailers’ minds in 2013. The key issue for shop owners remains the prosecution and conviction of these criminals. The vast majority of the retailers we surveyed were satisfied with Gardaí response times and reactions. However they are deeply frustrated with the legal system and believe that higher penalties and zero tolerance needs to be adopted as a matter of urgency. At a time when retailers are fighting to survive they are forced to pay double what they paid in 2011 on security. This crisis of retail crime without serious repercussion needs to end", says Tara Buckley, director general, RGDATA.
Some of the other findings include: only 25% of perpetrators were prosecuted and convicted this year; 97% of retailers feel more vulnerable in recent years than in the past; 80% of retailers are now concerned about tiger kidnappings compared to just 10% in 2011.
RGDATA is the representative body for the owners of 4,000 local family owned shops and supermarkets.
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