Ballina has become NSW’s’ shoplifting capital, with new crime statistics showing theft offences here are rising faster than anywhere else in the state.

Figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) reveal shoplifting has jumped 45.4 percent in just two years.

In the June quarter alone, police were called to 173 thefts from shops across the shire.

The broader picture is equally troubling: vandalism topped the list of offences with 255 cases, followed by 252 reports of theft. 

Police also dealt with 197 home break-ins, 60 non-residential break-ins, 158 domestic violence incidents, and 168 assaults in just three months.

‘Brazen Behaviour’ on the Rise

Deputy Mayor and retired detective Damian Loone said the statistics confirm what shopkeepers are already seeing.

“Some offenders walk in, take items and, when challenged, tell staff ‘you can’t do anything about it’ before walking out,” he said. 

“Many of these incidents aren’t even reported, so the true figure is likely higher.”

Councillor Loone said he was shocked at how brazen theft has become in Ballina, describing behaviour more commonly seen overseas. 

He warned that a lack of street surveillance leaves smaller retailers especially vulnerable.

“We’ve got good CCTV in Ballina Fair and Ballina Central, but not on the streets.

“That’s why funding for more cameras –  which has already been promised  – can’t come soon enough.”

He believes solutions lie in a tougher stance on repeat offenders and better coordination between retailers.

“In Sydney we ran operations targeting known shoplifters and they were refused bail. 

“That’s what should be happening here,” Cr Loone said.

Shopping Centre Fights Back

At Ballina Fair, centre manager and Chamber of Commerce executive Shaun Haysom has taken matters into his own hands.

Earlier this year, the shopping centre began posting images of suspected shoplifters online (main image above) which lead to multiple arrests.

But the campaign was halted after a parent threatened legal action against a Facebook page administrator.

“We know it worked –  four out of the five people we put up were later charged,” Mr Haysom said.

 “But when legal threats came in, we had to stop.”

Instead, Ballina Fair has ramped up security, issuing police-backed banning notices and supporting the installation of electronic gates at Woolworths.

“We logged 5,000 incidents in one year – not all theft, but enough to build strong cases against repeat offenders,” he said.

Mr Haysom said the rise in theft is not just about policing but also reflects deep social challenges.

“Since the 2022 floods, more lower socio-economic families have moved into Ballina. 

“Add cost-of-living pressures, and people are stealing to on-sell items for drugs or just to get by,” he said.

“We’ve caught offenders as young as 14 and as old as 80. 

“That’s how wide this problem runs.”

Call for Collaboration

Both Cr Loone and Mr Haysom say Ballina’s business community must work together.

Mr Loone is pushing for a Chamber-led approach where retailers share intelligence and use professional loss-prevention officers. 

Mr Haysom believes Ballina Fair’s proactive strategies – from customer engagement to real-time alerts between stores – could be extended to River Street and beyond.

“Something as simple as greeting a customer can be enough to deter opportunistic theft,” Mr Haysom said.

 “But the real wins come when businesses, police, and the community act together.

“That’s what it will take to turn these numbers around.”