Theft by employees

Prevent and report employee theft from your business.

Employee theft prevention information

Crime prevention tips on how to prevent employee theft.

Secure your business

Business security plays a big part in theft prevention:

• Provide a secure area and lockers for personal belongings.
• Ensure access control for entrances and areas with high-value goods. Minimise the number of staff with keys and use trackable access cards.
• Install CCTV and ensure employees are aware that they are under observation.
• Conduct regular stock counts to identify potential stock thefts.

Train your staff

Training and support can prevent cases of employee theft at your business:

• Provide an induction program for new employees.
• Communicate acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
• Provide ongoing retail security training.
• Communicate the correct process for employee purchases.
• Ensure staff know the opening and closing procedures.
• Make supervision expectations and processes clear to managers and staff.

Conduct background checks

Be aware of employees' previous workplaces:

• When hiring staff, conduct reference checks, and sight original photographic identification.
• Conduct National Police Criminal History Checks for new employees. Renew these checks regularly.
• Choose managers based on their past ethical behaviour.

Reward your staff

Recognise employee hard work and loyalty. Rewarding staff can help prevent future issues.

Report a theft by an employee

Managers and owners should report suspicious behaviour and employee theft to police immediately.

As an employee, you can report any theft by another employee to your supervisor or manager, or directly to police.

No issue is too small to report. Whether an employee has stolen a personal item, or an item from the business, make a theft report.

Reporting options

If the incident is happening now, the suspect is still on scene or if anyone is injured or in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

For non-emergencies, report employee theft as a theft report by:

• making an online report, or
• calling the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers online or by calling 1800 333 000.

Theft by customers

Learn how to prevent retail theft by shoppers and customers on our prevent retail theft page.