Retailers at risk as violent crime trebles

Violent crime targeting local family-owned shops and supermarkets has almost trebled in the past year.

According to a new study by RGDATA, the representative body for the owners of 4,000 local family-owned retailers, over 90% of retailers were victims of crime in the past 12 months.

Violence was used in 28% of these crimes, compared with 10% in 2011. Shop owners said the violent crimes included the use of guns, knives, hammers, and syringes.