Cork shopkeeper calls for tougher response to persistent retail theft

A Cork city shopkeeper has called for changes to the legal system to better tackle repeat offenders, as a new survey revealed that 36% of Irish small to medium enterprises were affected by crime in the past 12 months, with the figure as high as 100% for convenience stores.

ISME’s Business Crime Survey 2025 found that of Irish businesses which experienced crime, 68% were targeted more than once, and that 34% of SMEs spend over €5,000 annually on crime prevention.

Willie O’Brien, who runs Spar on MacCurtain St in Cork city, told The Echo that he spends €40,000 per year on security.

“Retailers have to incur security costs and cover the costs of losses, while we’re dealing with rising costs for electricity, products, wages, just like everybody else,” said Mr O’Brien.

He highlighted a recent survey by the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association showing that 100% of retailers surveyed had faced some form of crime in the last 12 months, including shoplifting, break-ins, and extortion.

A total of 67% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with Garda response times, and 76% of retailers said they had experienced financial losses, with 36% reporting losses exceeding €10,000 in a year.

“Nobody is addressing the root of the problem — the legal system is totally ineffective for dealing with people who have multiple criminality processes against them,” said Mr O’Brien.

“The State is bankrolling robbing businesses through free legal aid.

“It’s doing no good to the victims of theft or the culprits, because part of the justice system should be not just restitution, but rehabilitation.

“A lot of the theft is by the same people, and many of them tend to have addiction issues. Many of them are unwell, with chronic problems — they’re broken people, and it galls me that a country so wealthy is failing to address their needs.”

He said that he has “a degree of sympathy” for these people, but added: “It can be scary for staff, I have had my moment where I’ve felt intimidated, but I can’t afford to lie down and hide away, because I have a duty of responsibility to my staff.

“I’ve found myself in situations with people who are out of their minds, shouting, roaring, and aggressive, it can be very intimidating. But as far as we allow it to happen, it continues to happen.”

Mr O’Brien added that many shops are facing “huge issues in relation to succession. Children have watched their parents and what they have to endure, and they say: ‘I’m not doing this’.

“The cost of security is over €40,000 a year for me, but that’s small in comparison to many of my competitors in similar businesses. More and more people are having to get security. This issue has been going on for years and years and it’s still here, it’s worse it’s getting.”

The most common offences reported in the ISME survey were antisocial behaviour (21%), vandalism (19%), and burglary (17%), while 28% reported increased security costs, 22% faced higher insurance premiums, and 17% had to make expensive physical alterations to premises.

A total of 78% of all respondents believe the judicial system fails to deter repeat offenders, 85% want more gardaí, and 76% support tougher sentencing.

ISME chief executive Neil McDonnell said: “It is encouraging that most SMEs avoided crime over the past year, but the reality for repeat victims is stark.

“These businesses are paying more for security, more for insurance, and losing valuable time and productivity.

“SMEs are sending a clear message that they want more gardaí on the streets, tougher sentencing, and smarter use of technology like CCTV.

“If repeat offenders are allowed to operate without consequence, the burden will keep falling on the businesses that can least afford it.”