Thieves have shifted their focus from homes to shops, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data.
ABS Head of Crime and Justice Statistics Samantah Hall said victims of theft (excluding motor vehicles) recorded by police rose by six percent in 2024 to reach the highest number since 2003.
“Thefts at retail locations rose from 32 percent of all thefts in 2010 to 45 percent in 2024,” Ms Hall said.
“Meanwhile, thefts from residential locations have dropped from 30 to 25 percent of all thefts over the same period.”
She said, overall, there were 595,660 recorded victims of theft in 2024.
“These thefts, which includes things like shoplifting and pickpocketing, but not motor vehicle thefts, have been continually rising since a drop during 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions were introduced.”
Ms Hall said the largest rise over the past year was in Victoria, up 29 percent, followed by Tasmania, which rose by 11 percent.
She said the number of motor vehicle thefts recorded by police rose in 2024, up 8 percent to 65,603 victims.
