Most Young Australians Believe Retail Theft Is ‘Justified’ as Cost of Living Pressures Grow

As cost-of-living pressures rise, more than one in four consumers believe retail theft is justifiable to some degree, a study by Monash University has found.

In this stock image, a woman is seen stealing a bottle of wine from a supermarket. Harmony Starz/Depositphotos

While retail theft is on the rise, more Australians believe it’s justifiable as the cost of living continues to increase.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 595,660 victims of theft nationally in 2024—the highest number in 21 years and a 6 percent rise on the previous year. Almost half of those incidents (268,666 cases) occurred in retail settings.