Retailers at risk as violent crime trebles
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.
About 60% of retailers surveyed said retail crime was a “severe threat” to their business in 2012. This has increased significantly since 2011 when just 10% of retailers deemed retail crime to be a severe threat.
Some of the other key findings of the RGDATA research found only 25% of perpetrators of crime towards local shops and supermarkets were prosecuted and convicted this year.
As a result, 97% of retailers surveyed said they feel more vulnerable in recent years than in the past, while 80% of retailers are concerned about tiger kidnappings compared with just 10% in 2011.
Commenting on the research, director general of RGDATA Tara Buckley said crime is an issue at the forefront of retailers’ minds.
The survey comes as an award-winning ice cream maker had to close down its Temple Bar store after just one year in business because of violent assaults on staff members.
Its owners, New York brothers, Sean and Kieran Murphy, said staff had been assaulted on four occasions resulting in the hospitalisation of one worker.
Some violent incidents occurred even in the early morning with a stabbing also taking place outside the shop.
