The software that is raising retail crime statistics
Thursday, 28 December 2023
Retail NZ’s latest Retail Crime Survey estimated $1.3 billion was lost to shoplifting and internal crime over the past year, and another $1.1b from the direct costs of loss prevention.
The Post has reported retail crime as having spiked in central Wellington, with retailers reporting assaults and repeated thefts, often by young, repeat offenders. Police data has shown theft is reported in Central Wellington more than three times that of a decade ago.
A Police spokesperson said one reason for the rise in retail crime statistics was that the Auror system used by retailers had boosted reporting, particularly regarding “lower value, lower harm offending”.
The Auror software allows retailers to record and share retail crime incidents with other retailers and law enforcement.
Police data showed that from 2020 to June 30 2023, the majority of reported retail crime valued at under $500 was reported through Auror.
Burglary, threatening behaviour, assault, aggravated robbery, and wilful damage were still mostly reported directly to police.
Auror CEO and Co-Founder Phil Thomson told The Post his software made retail crime more visible, as the system was “easy and simple” for retailers to log incidents.
Having previously worked as a commercial lawyer, Thomson said he and Auror’s other two co-founders started the company in 2014 after becoming concerned with an increase in retail crime.
At that time no retail crime data was being captured from the perspective of retailers or the police, which had created a “blind spot”.
The company wantaed to build knowledge to bring both sides together to get a better understanding of what was really going on.
Auror’s internal platform allowed subscribers to immediately log incidents into the system on their website, which would be shared with other retailers in the area.
With many large chain retailers being on the same platform, they could see “the big picture” ‒ including whether someone was offending across all their stores in different locations.
That helped the National Retail Investigation Support Unit understand who the main offenders were and who was causing the most harm to the community, Thomson said.
Retailers could also report incidents to the police through Auror, call them to the store, and provide them with video footage.
Thomson said some shoplifters were heading to five alternative stores each day.
At the moment, Lego was a major target, maybe due to the Christmas season, he said.
Red meat was also an item of interest, as well as electronics and other “big ticket” items.
“You probably wouldn't think that someone would just pick up a large screen TV and walk out of the store. But they do and they do it on a regular basis,” Thompson said.
Police had logins to access Auror and to collaborate with retailers. They could also request the video evidence and witness statements be sent to them digitally.