As Melbourne enters the busiest retail season of the year — from Spring Racing sales and Black Friday to Christmas and Boxing Day rush — shopping centres are buzzing again. More customers, more sales, more excitement… and unfortunately, more risk.

While every major shopping centre in Melbourne — from Chadstone, Fountain Gate, Highpoint, Doncaster, to Dandenong Plaza — has its own mall-wide security, the truth is this: mall security protects the centre, not your individual store.

If you own or manage a retail shop, jewellery outlet, phone store, boutique, or pharmacy inside a shopping centre, this is the time to think ahead. Let’s explore why your business needs its own dedicated guard during busy times — and how AS Security can help you protect what you’ve built.

The Real Situation: Retail Crime Is Rising Across Victoria

Retail theft and customer aggression have hit record levels in Victoria.

• According to Victoria Police data (2024), reported shop thefts rose by over 20 % in one year, with Melbourne’s South-East corridor — including Dandenong, Cranbourne, and Narre Warren — being among the worst-affected areas.
• The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) estimates retail crime now costs the Australian industry around $9 billion annually, and Victoria alone accounts for roughly a quarter of that.
• What’s more alarming — the ARA found a 39 % rise in threatening or violent incidents against retail staff in 2024.

So, if you think “the centre already has security, we’re safe,” it’s time to reconsider. Mall security handles common areas, but your shopfront, stockroom, and staff remain your own responsibility.

Why Shopping-Centre Security Isn’t Enough for Your Shop

Most large centres employ a central security team to patrol public spaces: entrances, parking lots, food courts, and mall corridors. Their role is to protect the centre’s property and reputation, not necessarily each individual shop.

Here’s what usually happens in Melbourne’s malls during peak season:

• Centre guards patrol every few minutes, but they can’t monitor your store entrance or stock displays full-time.
• When a theft or incident occurs, response times vary — and the thief may already be gone by the time help arrives.
• Shared radio channels often handle multiple tenants’ emergencies simultaneously, so your case might wait in queue.
• In peak traffic (holiday season weekends or late-night trade), centre security is stretched thin — one guard may cover an entire floor.

A dedicated in-shop guard ensures your business always gets immediate protection and attention.

The Busy Season Means Higher Risk

As December approaches, retail activity skyrockets across Melbourne. You prepare stock, decorate windows, hire temporary staff — but criminals prepare too.

Why risk increases during this time:

• Heavy foot traffic means more distraction and easier escape routes for shoplifters.
• Casual or part-time staff may not recognise suspicious behaviour or follow reporting procedures.
• High-value displays (jewellery, electronics, branded clothing) are moved closer to customers for convenience — and theft opportunities multiply.
• Organised retail crime groups specifically target malls around Christmas, blending into crowds.

Even a single theft or aggressive confrontation can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars — not to mention staff morale, reputation, or customer confidence.

What a Dedicated Security Guard Can Do for Your Store

When you hire a trained guard from AS Security, you gain more than just “a presence.” You gain a dedicated partner in protecting your business.

Here’s what our guards do:

✅ Visible Deterrence — Thieves look for easy targets. A uniformed guard standing by your entrance instantly changes that.
✅ Quick Response — Our guards act immediately during suspicious activity, preventing theft or damage before it escalates.
✅ Customer & Staff Safety — Guards trained in de-escalation handle aggressive behaviour calmly and professionally.
✅ Loss Prevention — Regular patrols, bag checks (as permitted), and CCTV coordination reduce shrinkage and stock loss.
✅ Incident Reporting — Every event is logged and reported for insurance or centre-management records.
✅ Team Support — Guards assist your staff in emergency evacuations, lockdowns, or first-aid situations.

Think of them as part of your retail team, not just a cost line.

When Should You Add Extra Security?

Not every day requires the same level of protection — but certain times in Melbourne demand it.

High-risk periods:

• Thursday–Sunday evenings
• Sale events (Black Friday, Boxing Day, EOFY)
• Pay-day weekends and late-night shopping
• Festivals and long weekends
• When new product launches attract large crowds

Adding a guard even for 4–6 hours during peak trading can dramatically cut your exposure to theft or aggression.

Cost vs Loss: The Numbers Tell the Story

Let’s look at real-world numbers.

• The average loss per retail-theft incident in Victoria is around $600–$1,200, according to police data.
• The average guard cost from AS Security during busy times is around $50–$75 per hour + GST — fully insured, licensed, and ISO-certified.
• Just one prevented theft could pay for an entire week of protection.

Beyond dollars, a guard protects your peace of mind, staff confidence, and customer experience — all priceless assets for your brand.

Why Melbourne Shop Owners Trust AS Security

AS Security is a Melbourne-based, ISO-certified, fully licensed, and insured company specialising in retail, event, and corporate security.

We proudly serve clients across:

• Melbourne CBD
• South-East suburbs (Cranbourne, Dandenong, Narre Warren, Pakenham)
• Mornington Peninsula, and
• Greater Victoria regions

Our guards are trained to the highest standards — including crowd control, loss prevention, covert observation, CCTV monitoring, and customer-service communication.

We also integrate with existing shopping-centre protocols, ensuring smooth coordination with centre management and Victoria Police if required.

Every AS Security officer operates under Victoria’s Private Security Act and complies with WorkSafe Victoria and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety) standards.

Smart Security Strategies for Your Shop

Here are a few practical steps you can implement immediately:

1. Risk Audit – Identify theft-prone areas: entrances, fitting rooms, or high-value shelves.
2. Visible Presence – Position guards at entrances or customer-flow choke points.
3. Integrate CCTV – Ensure your cameras are live-monitored, not just recording.
4. Train Staff – Teach them how to spot suspicious behaviour and report discreetly.
5. Plan Ahead – Book guards in advance for busy weekends; last-minute requests during Christmas often face availability issues.

Proactive security planning shows leadership — it signals to both your customers and potential offenders that you take safety seriously.

The Psychological Advantage of In-Store Security

A visible guard doesn’t just stop crime — it changes behaviour. Customers feel safer, and that sense of safety often translates into longer browsing times and higher spending.

Meanwhile, potential offenders know they’re being watched. Studies show that the presence of a uniformed guard can reduce theft by up to 60 %, particularly in high-traffic retail environments like Melbourne’s shopping centres.

Act Before the Rush — Think Ahead

By November, most shopping-centre security contractors are already booked for Christmas rosters. If you wait until mid-December to arrange guards, you’ll either pay higher rates or miss availability altogether.

AS Security recommends locking in your peak-season security plan now — ideally for November through January.

Whether you need:

• A single static guard for your store entrance
• A loss-prevention officer (LPO) for covert monitoring
• Or a shared security arrangement between neighbouring shops

We can customise a plan that fits your needs and budget.

Final Word

Melbourne’s retail landscape is vibrant, but also increasingly challenging. Shop thefts, aggression, and organised crime are growing realities — especially in shopping centres where high traffic creates perfect cover for offenders.

Mall security does a great job, but their duty is to the entire centre. Your duty is to your shop, your staff, and your customers.

By having your own professional guard through AS Security, you’re not just reacting to crime — you’re preventing it.

So before the rush begins, take the smart step:
🔹 Secure your store.
🔹 Protect your people.
🔹 Safeguard your profits.

Contact AS Security Today

AS Security – Melbourne’s Trusted Retail Protection Partner
📍 33 Macumba Drive, Clyde North VIC 3978
📞 Call: 03 9088 0758
✉️ Email: info@assecurity.com.au
🌐 www.assecurity.com.au

Fully Licensed | ISO-Certified | Insured | Serving Melbourne & Victoria