Global retail crime intelligence platform Auror is partnering with Victoria Police to help focus their resources on organised, high-harm retail crime offenders.

The partnership builds on existing frontline police access to core retail crime intelligence, extending to sourcing relevant CCTV evidence, license plate recognition information of vehicles linked to crime events, and collaborative investigation tools and intelligence analysis that surface prolific offenders and those known to carry weapons in a given area.

Auror’s platform connects police to a database of information from Australia’s largest retailers about crime in their stores, fuel stations and parking facilities, helping them link what were previously considered isolated crimes to repeat and organised offenders.

Auror Senior Director Nick McDonnell said Victoria Police’s embrace of technology reflects a focus on addressing core drivers of retail crime, rather than one-off initiatives, and a commitment to efficiency when it comes to high volume crime.

“Retail crime is both a volume and violence issue, and we’re proud to play a role in helping police and retailers in Victoria get on top of this growing challenge,” he said,

“Police are doing a great job. They confront risk every day to keep us all safe, and so we should all want them to be as effective and efficient as possible.”

By taking advantage of digital evidence collection, police save a significant amount of time that would otherwise be spent physically or manually collecting and filing evidence.

Technology-enabled intelligence

Retailer collaboration via Auror have led to initiatives like Operation STAND and Operation Supernova, which linked $10 million worth of stolen goods to a Melbourne crime syndicate.

Mr McDonnell says retailer intelligence about crime is critical.

“We know the top 10% of offenders are responsible for over 60% of the total retail crime in Victoria, and that those repeat offenders are six times more likely to be violent, with one in 10 retail crime events involving violence or weapons,” he said.

The issue of organised retail crime is also a national one. Through Auror, nine major Australian retailers worked with police resulting in the arrest of a violent, serial gift card fraudster in Victoria, linked to more than 200 events across five states, and around $200,000 in alleged theft.

ARA support

Australian Retailers Association (ARA) CEO Chris Rodwell said improved digital recording and information-sharing is an important step towards making retail environments safer for Victorians.

“Technology-enabled reporting platforms, including Auror, help many retailers better understand the types of offending occurring across their stores. These tools support more accurate incident reporting and strengthen the flow of information to police, allowing them to identify repeat offenders and organised criminal activity more quickly,” he said. “Victoria Police are under significant demand pressures, and high-volume crime such as retail crime add to that load. Digital recording systems can help improve efficiency and capability by giving police clearer, timelier data – ultimately helping them intervene earlier and more effectively.”