Bunnings and Kmart employees are enduring a troubling surge in customer aggression, with over 1,000 incidents involving physical assaults and threats each month. In some alarming cases, weapons have been involved.
These startling statistics were disclosed by Wesfarmers, the parent company of these retail giants, during a recent announcement.
At the company’s annual general meeting, CEO Rob Scott highlighted a disturbing increase in serious threat incidents. He reported a 66% rise in such cases at Bunnings stores and a 29% increase at Kmart.
Throughout the past year, the conglomerate’s retail outlets have witnessed 13,500 instances where customers threatened their employees.
Of these incidents, over 1,000 involved physical assaults or serious threats of harm, and, in many situations, the presence of weapons was a concern.
In response, Scott noted that the company has enhanced security measures at locations deemed high-risk. They have also provided employees with training in de-escalation techniques and introduced the use of body-worn cameras for added safety.
In an effort to combat the crisis, information had been shared with peer retailers, governments and police.
“We support sensible reform, including tougher, nationally consistent penalties for violent retail crime and a national conversation to enable controlled, responsible use of technology to exclude known violent offenders from retail environments,” Scott said.
The concerning Wesfarmers’ figures coincided with new research showing Victoria was the country’s retail crime hotspot, with many residents blasting the state government for a lack of action.
The report by the Australian Retailers Association and National Retail Association found 79 per cent of Victorians were concerned over crime in stores and businesses.
Almost 90 per cent backed tougher penalties against offenders harming or threatening retail workers in the state.
The government of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen has made bail laws tougher, but has come under fire from not doing more to target repeat offenders who threaten or attack retail workers.
