Retail Theft Surges in Kildare: Committee Convenes to Protect Retailers and Staff

Wednesday, 13 December 2023 08:47

By Martin Osborne

Kildare retailers have grappled with an increase in retail theft.

Racist remarks, abuse, kicked and spat at.

These are just some of the things experienced by staff in the retail sector.

Members of the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee are currently hearing from several retail groups, who all want to see an improved Garda response.

The committee has heard how the overall cost of retail crime is around 1 point 6 billion euro a year, and how some grocery stores are losing 25 thousand euro a year in stock.

Kildare retailers have grappled with an increase in retail theft.

Theft from shop incidents has shown a notable increase, rising from 352 cases in Q3 2022 to 385 in Q3 2023.

This represents a 9% uptick in reported incidents.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Maurice Quinlivan, said: "Shoplifting sounds like an innocuous word but it is not a victimless crime. Retail is a low margin business and stock walking out the door daily has a serious impact on a retailer’s profit for the week – money that pays the wages, pays the taxes, rates and keeps people in employment.”

He added: “Shoplifting and anti-social behaviour from customers has an impact on retail staff as they are being verbally abused, threatened and intimidated while at work."

Tara Buckley from the Retail Grocery Dairy and Allied Trades Association - which represents 4 thousand grocery stores in Ireland - says workers are facing shocking abuse.