Holiday shoplifting at 20-year high: Indian-Australian retailers reveal impact and losses

With the festive rush underway, shoplifting has surged across Australia, reaching a 20-year high, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We speak with Sydney based Gurmeet Tuli, head of Little India Australia, representing nearly 90 Indian-origin small businesses. Tuli notes that while theft peaks for Indian businesses around Diwali, the broader holiday period consistently brings the highest losses, often 8–12%. He shares common patterns observed in these crimes and practical steps retailers can take to protect their stores.