Retail crime across Australia surged sharply in 2025, with new data showing Victoria recorded the nation’s biggest increase in threats, violence and weapon-related incidents – accelerating calls for greater use of technology to protect workers and customers.

Figures from crime intelligence technology firm Auror show threatening behaviour across Australia’s $444 billion retail sector rose 26% compared with 2024.

Violent incidents increased 17%, while the use of weapons climbed 10%, with knives and blades accounting for more than half of all weapon-related threats.

Victoria stood out as the worst-affected state. Weapon-related incidents rose 24%, violent events increased 29% and threats spiked 43% – well above national averages and higher than comparable increases in New South Wales and Queensland.

The data lands days after a landmark Administrative Review Tribunal decision backing Bunnings’ use of in-store facial recognition technology, overturning a ruling by the privacy commissioner.

The tribunal found the retailer was justified in deploying the technology to address a “real” and escalating risk to staff and property, provided stronger transparency and privacy safeguards are in place.

Retail leaders say repeat offenders are driving the surge. Auror’s analysis shows the top 10% of offenders are responsible for more than 60% of retail crime and repeat offenders are up to four times more likely to be violent. Organised retail theft rings targeting high-value goods and resale through online marketplaces remain a key concern.

While NSW and Queensland also recorded double-digit increases in threats and violent incidents, NSW saw a 6% fall in weapon-related crime, suggesting targeted enforcement and policy interventions may be having an impact.

Australian Retail Council CEO Chris Rodwell said the figures highlight the growing role of technology in frontline safety.

“Retail crime is escalating and is increasingly driven by high-harm repeat offenders,” he said. “Retailers need lawful, well-governed tools, including offender-matching technologies, to protect workers and customers.”

The privacy commissioner has 28 days to appeal the tribunal ruling to the Federal Court, a move that could shape how facial recognition and other advanced surveillance technologies are deployed across Australia’s retail sector in coming years.