r retailers in the area. Of the 77 people arrested, 21 were charged to appear in court, 34 were issued criminal infringement notices, and 10 others were issued with warnings. In addition, 12 juveniles received a formal youth caution. The good news, according to Redfern Region Enforcement Squad Commander, Detective Chief Inspector, Stuart Bell, is that the results were lower than when compared to the same time in each of the past two years. He said these types of operations were usually conducted in conjunction with the mid-year and Christmas sales each year – or when needed, based on intelligence and reported theft. “They work much better when the police and the retailers work closely together,” he said. “Police have additional powers that we can use to stop a person, which the loss prevention officers don’t have.” Operation Lightfingers is a joint initiative between the National Retail Association’s (NRA) Loss Prevention Taskforce and the NSW Police. NRA CEO, Trevor Evans, told Inside Retail PREMIUM this week that retail theft, notably recidivism and organised crime, was a serious problem facing the retail sector. “It disrupts business operations, harms staff and customers and takes a significant toll on profitability, with flow-on effects to employment and the cost of living,” he said. “Industry research confirms that potential offenders are discouraged by the prospect of being apprehended. “Collaboration between police and the retail industry through initiatives such as Operation Lightfingers, and its subsequent publicity, reduces theft by sending a clear message to would-be criminals that they will be caught and that retail crime will not be tolerated in NSW. Retail crime, including shoplifting and damage to property, costs NSW retailers $2.4 billion every year. It is particularly damaging at a time when retail business is challenged by significant structural changes, rising expenses and challenging consumer sentiment.” Evans added that as criminals weighed up the risks and benefits of crime, retailers tended to present as softer targets than institutions such as banks and financial services. He said there were a number of precautions shopkeepers can take in order to reduce susceptibility, particularly through the use of technology. “Thieves prefer privacy, so increasing visibility of security surveillance, and highlighting the existence of security as a deterrent, is a great place to start,” he said. “Retailers should consider staff training in the area of loss prevention and in how to best respond to armed hold-ups.”