Australia is in the thick of its busiest shopping period of the year. And as retail workers scramble to keep up with shoppers’ demands, something more sinister is taking place in the nation’s largest retail stores.
As well as being a peak period of retail, Christmas also sees crime soar, with a noticeable rise in theft, violence and aggression from customers.
Understandably, our largest brands including Kmart, Bunnings, Coles and Woolworths would want to do everything they can to ensure worker safety and prevent theft.
However, a new store feature aimed at deterring theft is causing significant frustration, according to a leading security expert.
Kmart is the latest major retailer to install security gates at its entrances and exits.
The controversial devices sparked backlash from shoppers when they were introduced at Coles and Woolworths in recent years.
And while they can be “good”, security, risk and communications expert Scott Taylor told Yahoo News, they aren’t a complete answer to stopping violence or theft, and retailers run the risk of alienating shoppers with the move.
“[It’s] causing some frustration because sometimes you can get issues with them, and then you’ve got the person who might be aggressive and violent, now trapped behind the gate there with you,” Scott Taylor told Yahoo News.
Kmart is rolling out security gates in stores. Source: Yahoo News Australia
He said a “reduced size” in entry and exit points gives businesses more visibility, but noted not all major retailers — and not even all Kmarts — will have the same security measures.
“They need to adjust based on their demographic, their crime reporting, all those sort of things.”
Scott said retailers have realised at the end of the day, they need for support their people in dealing with crime.
“You’ve got to protect all your assets and it’s not just your property and your reputation, you need to protect your people,” he said.
Kmart responds after security gates installed
Kmart spokesperson told Yahoo News that, as a retailer, “shrinkage” is a challenge that the business is facing, and installing the barriers was just one of a number of initiatives to create a safer shopping experience.
“In line with good business practice, we have a number of initiatives in place, including upgraded equipment and gates, to help create a safer and more enjoyable shopping experience for our customers,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson did not elaborate on plans to expand the initiative or how many stores the feature is in across the country.
WA introduces tough new laws for retail criminals
Over in WA, retailers falling victim to intimidation and violent assaults will be given bold new powers to protect staff under landmark legislation proposed by the Western Australian government.
The new bill will empower employers and shopping centre management to ban offenders from stores for up to two years, and offenders breaching the ban could be jailed for up to five years.
Cases of customer aggression towards retail and hospitality workers are expected to rise over Christmas. Source: Woolworths
The government’s Retail Barring Orders (RBO) Bill 2025 would give retailers more authority to intervene early and prevent high-risk individuals from re-entering their premises before incidents escalate.
The Bill, which is set to go before parliament before it can become law, would allow employers, shopping centre operators and unions to seek court orders banning violent or threatening individuals from entering shops or retail precincts.
Quick crime statistics
70 per cent of retailers reported an increase in customer theft across the last financial year
87 per cent of retail workers report experiencing verbal abuse
Around 800,000 retail crime incidents were reported across Australia in the past year
The top 10 per cent of offenders are responsible for around 60 per cent of total harm
Over 50 per cent of retail workers are women, and more than a third are aged 15–24 years
Yahoo News contacted Kmart for comment.
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