More Australians are resorting to petty theft at supermarkets as they struggle with pressures of the cost of living crisis, new research shows.
An extensive survey conducted by Finder.com.au uncovered an alarming trend, with roughly 12% of Australians, roughly equivalent to 2.4 million individuals, have admitted to resorting to theft over the past year as they grapple with their financial constraints.
About 5% of Australians have turned to stealing items while utilising self-checkout facilities at supermarkets. Additionally, a slightly lower percentage of 4% have confessed to deceiving self-serve check-outs by intentionally misrepresenting the items they’ve scanned.
An estimated 811,000 people have consciously scanned less expensive items, like onions, while bagging costlier alternatives such as avocados.
Graham Cooke, who holds the position of Head of Consumer Research at Finder, highlighted the dire financial predicaments many Australian households currently find themselves in.
“Money pressure is escalating with a rising number of households in survival mode,” Cooke said.
“Both Woolies and Coles mentioned a rise in shoplifting during their recent profit announcements.
“Aussies are clearly struggling to afford basic necessities and some are turning to criminal behaviour to get by.
“This, combined with the widespread use of self-checkouts, has resulted in opportunistic shoppers leaving with more in their bags than they paid for.”
The average Australian is now spending $740 per month on groceries, reflecting a 7% increase in the past year, according to Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker.
The research from Finder further reveals that 4% of Australians have driven away from fuel stations without paying for their fuel in the past year, while 2% have departed from cafes or restaurants without settling their bills.
Interestingly, the younger generation, Gen Z (24%), appears to be more inclined to engage in unlawful activities to secure essentials such as food and fuel. A staggering 12% of Gen Z individuals admitted to leaving a supermarket without paying for an item, in stark contrast to just 3% of Gen X who have done the same.
Cooke pointed out that this increase in illegal activities has prompted retailers to heighten their security measures.
“Retailers have had to crack down on theft by installing cameras at self-service kiosks and employing more staff to monitor checkouts,” he said.
He also encouraged struggling Australians to explore available resources like food banks, such as OzHarvest and SecondBite, if they find it challenging to afford basic necessities.
“As tempting as it may be, a basket discount is not worth the cost of a potential criminal record,” Cooke said.
“Having said that, with FMCG profits up dramatically, it would be understandable for consumers to expect their retailers to do more to help them get through the cost of living crisis.”
