‘They’re just deterrents’: security powers questioned in the face of retail crime

Australians call for better public protection measures as citizens take matters into their own hands. Jasmine Krnjaic reports.

August 17, 2025

A citizen’s arrest at a major Melbourne shopping centre has sparked public concern surrounding security adequacy amid Victoria’s ongoing spike in retail crime.

On the morning of August 17, a pair of teenagers left a sports store with stolen goods. A Westfield concierge member, who wished to remain anonymous, witnessed the incident on CCTV, saying police were called but were not able to detain the offenders.

“The customers [three males] saw them stealing and were able to pin them down momentarily. 

“Security came by, but they [the offenders] were able to flee in a stolen vehicle.” 

The incident sparked online debate. 

“Why can members of the public do this,” one Facebook user said, “yet the ones who get paid for it, like security guards, aren’t allowed to touch them?”

A security guards’ permission to use reasonable physical force to remove threats and protect themselves, others, and property is dependent on their contractor and highly subject to legal scrutiny. A spokesperson from Scentre Group, the owners of Westfield Australia, stated that their security’s role is to observe and escalate incidents to the appropriate authorities.

“Our security approach is created in partnership with law enforcement and government agencies.”

They stated that this better ensures their security team’s safety, particularly following the Bondi attack in 2024. If the CCTV operator sees a security guard intervening too much, or getting too close, the concierge said they will be “told to back off.”

Laura Campbell said she and her 13-year-old-son “don’t feel safe at the shops” after witnessing a theft at her local Woolworths, calling for better public protection.

“You kind of have to let them go… you just don’t know what they’re willing to do, how they’re going to retaliate towards you.

“They know they can just walk away, that’s why they keep doing it. 

“I think something needs to be in place to reprimand them. I think security should be able to do more, or hold them until police get there.”

Earlier this year, the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency showed a 27.65% increase in retail-based crimes since March 2024, with an overall 76.8% increase since 2022. 

“Most security guards are just casual workers, and they won’t be paid more to do more,” the concierge said, “they already put their lives at risk!”

“People just get bolder every day, and they [policy makers] aren’t going to change anything because of it,

“Security is trying their best with what they have.”