Safety gains from new tech adoption among Melbourne retailers

Melbourne retailers, much like the rest of Victoria, face challenging times for their businesses. Despite an ongoing industry rebound, many shops are struggling to combat the recent rise in theft and safety threats throughout the CBD and beyond.

Business confidence in Melbourne is at a historic low, with one of the core drivers being safety concerns throughout the city. Australia's current economic snapshot further puts pressure on retailers, including rising inflation, increased household costs and other fiscal issues.

Melbourne shops are seeking answers to provide a clearer growth projection for the future. Achieving that objective means increasing safety gains in retail locations.

Melbourne retailers are facing a crime surge

Crime is on the rise throughout Victoria, particularly affecting retail and cars within Melbourne's CBD. Thefts of car parts and shoplifting have increased by as much as 40% throughout the state, with a notable rise in incidents reported over the 12 months between June 2024 and June 2025.

Melbourne retail establishments in the CBD and suburbs are seeing more organised attacks against shops, with many perpetrators carrying sharp weapons such as knives. The crime surge has led retail leaders in the city to reevaluate their security infrastructure, considering options for mitigating threats for an already struggling industry.

Growth in retail crime is not exclusive to Melbourne, considering major cities worldwide often report similar statistics. However, the question remains as to how to address the increasing prevalence of retail crime when threats seem to grow and evolve daily.

Advancements in security technology, especially in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), can help detect threats early and facilitate faster responses, aligning with a retail business's available resources.

How is the adoption of new technology providing retail safety gains?

New technology adoptions can be the catalyst for threat mitigation, demonstrated by organisations that have already rolled out advanced security solutions. Retail businesses in the United Kingdom, which have also seen a significant surge in retail crime since the beginning of the year, have begun deploying enhanced security technology with AI-assisted functions.

Initial reports from retail managers have praised the successes in safety gains. Integrated solutions, including video security cameras, biometric access control, smart shelves and duress alarms, can also help Melbourne retailers meet their targets of deterrence and swifter response.

Here's how the adoption of new technology can provide safety gains for Melbourne retail:

Improved visual overview

Advanced commercial security cameras with enhanced optics and AI-assisted analytics can help detect threats early, learning from real-time visual data to identify suspicious behaviour. The devices can provide a more comprehensive overview of the shop, alerting responsible personnel to unusual activity in real-time.

Better protection of inventory

Smart shelves equipped with internet of things (IoT) sensors can help enhance inventory protection, particularly for high-value goods. Pressure pads on shelves or motion detection sensors can alert retail personnel to the removal of an item, prompting a timely and appropriate response.

Reduced human intervention

Global retailers with brick-and-mortar locations are facing an increasing number of challenges, including rising operational costs and revenue losses from theft. Managers can leverage technology with AI-assisted analytics to reduce the need for human security oversight, lowering costs.

AI-assisted insights

Video security cameras and IoT sensors can feed data into an AI-assisted management platform, providing deep insights into store operations. Managers can use information captured, such as daily foot traffic and consumer activity, to improve security around the establishment continually.

Analysing new tech against Australian retail trends

Economic concerns, such as the cost-of-living crisis, dominated Australian retail consumer trends in 2025, leading to a tendency to spend more frugally and be more selective with the products they purchase. However, there are other factors influencing retail visits, including personalisation, convenience and sustainability of the stores.

Implementing new security technology in retail establishments can serve a higher purpose than just achieving safety gains. It can also meet consumer demand for a more curated experience that caters to their specific needs.

Consumers visiting shops expect to feel safe and complete their customer journey without incident. However, AI-assisted devices can also provide data to enhance the personalisation and convenience for visitors.

Examples include cameras that can help consistently optimise floor layout based on consumer activity or identify registered customers to send direct rewards for their loyalty. The gains retailers could achieve from new technologies could far outweigh the costs of implementing a new system.

Securing Melbourne retailers with scalable technology

As the Melbourne CBD continues its post-pandemic recovery, retailers are facing new security challenges, including a significant rise in theft and disruption. Organisations are finding it increasingly challenging to operate amid the losses associated with the surge in crime, seeking new options to address the growing industry threats.

New technologies can provide the scalable solutions Melbourne retailers need to help deter shoplifters, adapt to new threats and facilitate faster response in case of an incident. Businesses can benefit from the safety gains as they target growth in a challenging Australian retail climate.