A retail worker’s alarming warning to a mother about the safety of shopping centres has highlighted a growing concern regarding youth crime in Melbourne. Rochelle Currie shared her experience on social media, revealing that a shop assistant advised her to avoid shopping areas with her children “unless absolutely necessary.” This advice comes amid reports of escalating violence and theft involving young people in the city.
Currie recounted a distressing incident at Westfield Doncaster Shopping Centre where her husband, while accompanying their young daughter, encountered a chaotic scene. A group of teenagers dressed in black charged towards them, prompting her husband to quickly shield their daughter. “He grabbed my daughter, pulled her to the side, got her behind him, and they all just ran past,” she stated. The situation escalated further, with witnesses reportedly screaming and chaos ensuing in the centre.
Despite the presence of security personnel, Currie remarked that it appeared they were waiting for police assistance rather than intervening. “There was just chaos,” she noted. This incident has fueled growing fears among parents in Melbourne, with many sharing their own distressing experiences on social media.
The rising youth crime rate in Melbourne has been documented by the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA), which reported a total of 5,901 crimes across 13 major shopping centres in the last financial year, marking a 20 percent increase from the previous year. The surge in incidents has been largely attributed to thefts, which rose by nearly 30 percent and accounted for two-thirds of all offences. Notable hotspots included Bayside Frankston with 105 crimes against a person, followed by Northland with 82 and Westfield Fountain Gate with 72.
The community’s fears are not unfounded. Stories shared by locals reveal the impact of youth crime on their lives. One woman recounted a traumatic experience where she and her husband were attacked by a group of teenagers wielding weapons at a petrol station. “They were arrested four months later and given community service after 80 crimes committed,” she explained, expressing ongoing psychological distress from the incident.
As parents voice their concerns about the safety of their children in public spaces, some have attributed the rise in youth crime to factors such as disengagement from education and lack of opportunities. One parent indicated that their child had been a victim of crime multiple times, suggesting that the long period of lockdowns during the pandemic may have adversely affected youth behaviour.
In response to the alarming crime statistics, Victoria Police launched a 90-day operation on December 8, 2025, aimed at increasing security and deterring criminal activity in shopping centres. The initiative focuses on locations such as Highpoint, Northland, and Westfield Fountain Gate, deploying Protective Services Officers to enhance safety. Angus Nardi, Chief Executive of the Shopping Centre Council of Australia, emphasized the importance of increased police visibility in reassuring the community. “Shopping centres are safe places, and the increased police presence will provide community assurance,” he stated.
As Melbourne grapples with this troubling trend, the community remains on edge, with many parents reconsidering their shopping habits and the safety of their children in public spaces.
