Concerns are growing this morning for the safety of both retail staff and customers after dangerous scenes erupted at a Melbourne discount store yesterday. It happened at the Pandomat in Cranburn. Wild footage captured the moment security staff and a customer armed with a guitar confront a group of crowbar wielding thieves. After the chaos, the aggressive thieves managed to escape in a white van. And this is just the latest in a string of incidents where ossie workers have been violently threatened. So for more, we're joined by Plur Brown from the Australian Retailers Association. Good morning to you. This was really violent, Flur. What was your reaction.

Concerns are growing this morning for the safety of both retail staff and customers after dangerous scenes erupted at a Melbourne discount store yesterday. It happened at the Pandomat in Cranburn. Wild footage captured the moment security staff and a customer armed with a guitar confront a group of crowbar wielding thieves. After the chaos, the aggressive thieves managed to escape in a white van. And this is just the latest in a string of incidents where ossie workers have been violently threatened. So for more, we're joined by Plur Brown from the Australian Retailers Association. Good morning to you. This was really violent, Flur. What was your reaction.

Look, it's always shocking and with nine that retail crime is a really significant issue in Australia for a couple of years now, but it's still shocked to see that footage and to just think about the people that are there to witness that and the teams that have to put up almost on a daily basis in some cases.

Look, it's always shocking and with nine that retail crime is a really significant issue in Australia for a couple of years now, but it's still shocked to see that footage and to just think about the people that are there to witness that and the teams that have to put up almost on a daily basis in some cases.

Yeah, So what happened was that this gang actually started driving away, then they came back and chase the security staff back inside. It was aggressive and it was really targeted.

Yeah, So what happened was that this gang actually started driving away, then they came back and chase the security staff back inside. It was aggressive and it was really targeted.

Yes, unfortunately, we've seen a lot of this very aggressive behavior in Australia in retail settings. We've seen significant leap in the last twelve months. Even in those in those events, now I know they used a guitar, but in many cases they're using weapons like a knife or even a gun, and that's very intimidating for retail teams as you can imagine.

Yes, unfortunately, we've seen a lot of this very aggressive behavior in Australia in retail settings. We've seen significant leap in the last twelve months. Even in those in those events, now I know they used a guitar, but in many cases they're using weapons like a knife or even a gun, and that's very intimidating for retail teams as you can imagine.

Yeah, So for as far as attacks on shop keepers are concerned, this was at eleven o'clock in the morning. You know, broad daylight shoplifting has gone up, hasn't it.

Yeah, So for as far as attacks on shop keepers are concerned, this was at eleven o'clock in the morning. You know, broad daylight shoplifting has gone up, hasn't it.

It has. We've all unfortunately seen an increase, quite a staggering increase and shoplifting as well. We do know that the majority of that is concentrated with repeat offenders and also with organized criminals, and that's also extremely nerve racking for retail teams. So they're doing everything they can to report that data, to work closely with local authorities and police. We're asking for governments to really lean in on this and work collaboratively with retail, having focused regulations around it, giving police more powers and making sure there's enough police available as well to deal with the issue.

It has. We've all unfortunately seen an increase, quite a staggering increase and shoplifting as well. We do know that the majority of that is concentrated with repeat offenders and also with organized criminals, and that's also extremely nerve racking for retail teams. So they're doing everything they can to report that data, to work closely with local authorities and police. We're asking for governments to really lean in on this and work collaboratively with retail, having focused regulations around it, giving police more powers and making sure there's enough police available as well to deal with the issue.

Yeah, This is shocking because retailers are out there just doing their job, all the shopkeepers and then this. Thank you very much, Fleur. Let's hope something is done about it. We'll leave you. Here's ever

Yeah, This is shocking because retailers are out there just doing their job, all the shopkeepers and then this. Thank you very much, Fleur. Let's hope something is done about it. We'll leave you. Here's ever