LIMESTONE Coast police have called on businesses to be extra vigilant this festive period with the incidence of theft expected to increase over the next few weeks.
With activity expected to ramp up throughout the retail district of Mount Gambier, police are on the look-out for brazen thieves targeting businesses.
It follows a number of thefts and break-ins this week, including one woman who attempted to exit Big W with a trolley carrying around $2000 worth of goods.
Fortunately, the woman was intercepted by staff and the items were recovered.
While shop-lifting can fly under the radar, Limestone Coast Police Operations Inspector Campbell Hill said businesses can take steps to prevent it from occurring.
“We try to work in partnership with the community and retail outlets – it’s about us imploring with store owners to be vigilant with their security,” he said.
“They need to have a look at how the store is physically laid out and whether they have valuable items at the front of their store.”
In addition he said police will also have a focus on being highly visible throughout the city’s retail district.
“We will have people out and about specifically to deter people who have a desire to commit offences,” Insp Hill said.
“It’s not that we are in the middle of a crime wave, people definitely do not need to be concerned, but because there are more people around it can be a little bit easier for offenders to shoplift.”
Social media has become a common platform for store owners to post security camera footage in an attempt to identify thieves from there store.
However, Insp Hill said businesses needed to be aware there could be legal ramifications.
“If there is a mistake with it or they are putting an image up of someone that is not accurate, they could find themselves in a position where they need to reply legally,” Insp Hill said.
“We would just urge people to report it to the police and leave it to us to investigate those matters, so they do not open themselves up to those issues.”
Limestone Coast Police officer in charge Superintendent Phil Hoff said the vigilance should also extend to shoppers who can also become a target for brazen thieves.
“Be mindful of your own personal security, you can help protect yourself by looking after your phone, your wallet, your credit card,” Supt Hoff said.
“A lot of people do transactions with their phones now and we have had incidents where people leave them on the counter and they turn around and it is no longer there.”
Ultimately, Insp Hill said the police will not be tolerating thieves and any other anti-social behaviour over the festive period.
“We know that this time of year there are people who are finding it a bit tough and we appreciate that, but we will not be tolerating an increase of crime because of that.”
