Retail crime is reaching crisis levels, placing an unsustainable financial and emotional burden on businesses across the country.
Excel Recruitment is calling for swift and decisive action to combat the growing issue of retail theft and anti-social behaviour, which is crippling Irish retailers.
These calls follow newly released CSO statistics, which show that in Q3 2024, incidents of theft from shops surged by 3,034 cases (+10pc), making up 57pc of the overall rise in theft and related offences.
In total, theft-related crimes increased by 5,331 incidents (+7pc) compared to the same period in 2023.
According to figures from the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME), retail crime costs businesses over €1.62 billion annually.
Nikki Murran, Director of Retail at Excel Recruitment spoke of the current situation,
“This staggering financial loss is compounded by the immeasurable emotional distress experienced by business owners, employees, and customers. You cannot measure in monetary terms the anguish this causes to retailers and their staff. Every theft, every instance of vandalism, every act of anti-social behaviour takes a toll – financially, physically, and mentally.”
Ms. Murran went on to say,
“The introduction of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and increased funding for CCTV schemes are positive developments. Commitments to strengthening the Garda Reserve intake and enhancing frontline Garda visibility are encouraging.
But the overall response still lacks the urgency required and critical gaps remain:
Retailers simply cannot continue to wait. They need stronger legal protections, clear commitments to improving Garda response times, and a retail crime strategy that acknowledges the challenges businesses face daily. These aren’t just ‘nice to have’ policies – they are essential for the survival of our industry.”
Harrowing and Scary Examples of Retail Crime in Ireland
Excel Recruitment say they are “getting behind” the distressed retailers they deal with regularly and are highlighting their plight.
Ms. Murran continued,
“Late last year[1], retailers from across the country came together in response to what they classed as a state of emergency for their safety, their employees’ safety, and the continuous attacks on their livelihoods.
This forum provided a safe space for retailers to share their experiences. Many of the stories were harrowing, but one remains particularly striking a female store owner who was physically trapped inside her shop, holding the door closed while hooded youths attempted to force their way in to attack her manager.
Many frontline grocery store workers earn minimum wage, and a significant number are non-nationals working hard to support their families. A key theme from the forum was the racism these staff members face not only from petty criminals but also in subtle ways when reaching out to emergency responders for help”.
Excel Recruitment report that by the end of the event, retailers had united to make five key demands to address retail crime.
Ms. Murran continued:
“Retailers across Ireland have been vocal in highlighting the urgent need for intervention, with organisations such as ShelfLife Mediateam, CSNA (Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association), and RGDATA (Retail Trade Association) leading the charge. Their relentless advocacy has been instrumental in securing government action, and their efforts deserve full recognition.”
“There’s still a way to go, but this really shows how powerful retailers’ voices can be when they come together. Retail crime is not just an issue for business owners – it affects communities, jobs, and economic stability. We must continue to push for stronger protections and immediate action.”
Call for Immediate Action
Excel Recruitment and retailers across the country are urging the Government to implement these critical changes without delay. The cost of inaction is too high - business closures, job losses, and a growing sense of fear among retail workers are the inevitable consequences if these measures are not put in place.
Ms. Murran concluded,
“Retail crime must be treated with the seriousness it deserves, and the Government must move swiftly to ensure businesses, employees, and customers can operate in a safe environment. It’s time to turn promises into action”.
Michael Wall, who's owns Salvagem antiques on MacCurtain Street in Cork, says he reported an incident involving a group of young boys outside his shop last Wednesday, but still hasn't heard back from Gardaí.
“Every shop, cafe, and pub owner knows it, but there’s nothing being done,” he told the Evening Echo:
Mr Wall was speaking in the wake of an incident last Wednesday.
“A group of seven young teenagers aged between 12 and 15 started playing around with the furniture outside — sitting on it, kicking it.
“When I approached and asked them not to, a tirade of verbal abuse started,” he explained.
Following this, he went back into the shop, but they began kicking the door and yelling, so he returned outside. Mr Wall went out again and warned them he had CCTV cameras.
“The threats started again — windows were going to be broken, I was going to be ‘stuck’ — with what, I didn’t know. Then they took off with mad haste.
“What really upset me is when I brought the pots in there was a hypodermic needle in one pot, a used syringe with an exposed needle.
“I wouldn’t have assumed kids that young would be near or have needles, I wonder if he found it and picked it up to threaten people with.
“When a child threatens to ‘stick you’, you don’t think the child will have a needle.”
Mr Wall said he has contacted gardaí about the matter. He called for additional gardaí to be allocated to Cork city.
