FUEL STATION WORKER DESCRIBES DAILY SHOPLIFTING IN HEDLAND

By Tangiora Hinaki

A fuel station worker in Port Hedland says repeated shoplifting by teenagers has become part of daily life on the job.

The staff member, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, told Ngaarda Media she can see the same young people coming into the store multiple times a day.

“In my shift alone, I see them minimum three times,” she said.

“Sometimes four, five times. Same kids.”

She said most incidents involve drinks and chips and are carried out openly.

“In front of me,” she said. “They know we can’t do anything. They just tease us, like, ‘I’m taking this’ — and then they go.”

The worker said store policy directs staff not to physically intervene.

“Our code of conduct says your safety is number one. Just leave them,” she said.

She believes the behaviour is happening in the morning and the afternoon.

“They must come in the morning too,” she said. “They’re not going to school.”

She estimates she may witness up to 100 incidents in some months.

When police are called, she says response times vary.

“If they’re busy, we wait hours. If good timing, maybe one hour,” she said.

She said calls are usually made when groups become aggressive or throw items inside the store.

“Sometimes they throw drinks at us, make a mess in the shop,” she said.

The worker added that adults also steal, but usually attempt to avoid cameras.

“Adults are sneaking,” she said. “They hide in blind spots.”

She said she has questioned why more community members do not step in when incidents happen in front of customers.

“I ask, why nobody say anything? They listen to you, not me,” she said.

She believes some adults are afraid of retaliation.

“They’re scared, maybe the kids damage their car or something,” she said.

The staff member says without consequences, the behaviour continues.

“If every business just leaves them, what can happen? They don’t learn,” she said.

Western Australia Police say they take shoplifting seriously and continue working with retailers to prevent repeat offending.

Officers say response times can vary depending on demand, but businesses are encouraged to report incidents so police can identify offenders and take action.

Police say youth offending is managed through cautions, diversion programs or the courts, depending on age and circumstances.

They say addressing youth crime requires cooperation between police, government, families and the wider community.