Australia’s biggest supermarkets are rapidly deploying surveillance tech to combat a surge in organised shoplifting and violent incidents, with Victoria emerging as the nation’s retail crime hotspot.

Woolworths revealed violent incidents in its 1,100 stores jumped 26% in the past year, with Victoria responsible for half of that increase.

The supermarket giant was forced to lock down stores 45 times in the first half of 2025 due to security incidents.

Staff in more than 350 outlets – mostly in Victoria – have now been issued body cameras and earpieces as a frontline defence.

Coles chief executive Leah Weckert said the chain had poured nearly $100 million into crime prevention over two years, rolling out AI-powered self-checkout monitoring, trolley locks and double exit gates.

Coles staff are also being trained in de-escalation techniques as organised gangs increasingly target high-value goods such as baby formula, cosmetics and meat.

The crackdown comes after Victorian Police this month arrested 19 people linked to a shoplifting syndicate accused of stealing more than $10 million worth of goods.

Retail intelligence platform Auror, used by Woolworths, Bunnings and Myer, says 30% of the 800,000 thefts it logged last year were in Victoria.

One in four incidents involved aggression or intimidation, while weapon-related offences surged 66%.

Premier Jacinta Allan has pledged new laws to toughen penalties against assaults on retail workers by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Bunnings is appealing a privacy ruling that shut down its trial of AI facial recognition to flag repeat offenders – a case the entire industry is watching.

Retail bosses warn the technology rollouts are stemming losses but only partially. “Despite all the investments… we are continuing to see increases in threatening situations in store,” Weckert said.

With crime threatening staff safety and pushing up costs, Victoria’s worsening problem is now the frontline of a national debate on how far retailers should go with surveillance and AI to keep stores safe.