The owner of a Dublin city centre convenience store has told how he deals with up to ten shoplifters a day, with some of these turning into physical confrontations.
Michael O'Driscoll, who runs a shop near O’Connell Street, addressed an Oireachtas committee about the dangers of shoplifting.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme, Mr O'Driscoll, who has operated a convenience store for nearly 25 years, said there has been a "huge increase" in antisocial behaviour.
"Since Covid, it has certainly got worse and it's the aggression that is the biggest problem we have now, people are very aggressive," he said.
"When they come in, even if you catch them, they'll fight with you to take the goods so you have to tackle them, try and get the stuff out and make a decision whether it's worth that hassle or not."
Mr O'Driscoll said it was very dangerous for his staff, most of whom are not Irish.
"There seems to be more disrespect for them because of their nationality or where they're from," he said.
"So I tend to deal with these personally and then my staff will be there as a back-up if something was out of control, but generally when it gets to that situation I have to back away and let them out with goods."
Mr O'Driscoll said the cost to the shop works out as 1% or 2% of the takings over a year and has a real difference as to how much he makes as a retailer.
"It's obviously a financial issue because we do lose a lot of money now and also the aggression obviously is a concern because I'm afraid someone's going to get hurt," he said.
"Those riots that happened weeks ago to me is an illumination of what's been developing in our city for quite a while. People who rob now don't have any respect because they feel that there is no punishment."
Mr O'Driscoll says it is mainly Irish people in their 20s who are shoplifting and he would challenge between five and ten people a day who shoplift.
"And that's only what I get so obviously there are more people who rob that get away with stuff," he said.
"On a bad day I could have ten and four of them would be bad instances where I'd have to fight to get my goods back. And that's very difficult to run a business like that, very difficult for your mental health and also for my staff, to see people being so aggressive.
"I have had some instances where I have gone out after somebody and tackled him and there were guards there and dealt with the situation for me and that's a huge comfort for me.
"I want to be able to walk out on the street and see guards walking up and down the street and feel a certain comfort that I know if I've got some issue, they're not far away."
