Bunnings says Australians are increasingly turning to home security products as worries about crime continue to build. The hardware retailer reported stronger sales across the country and is now launching financial support for community organisations through its Safer Places initiative.
New research commissioned by Bunnings found 41 per cent of Australians are worried about youth crime, while 37 per cent are concerned about break-ins and property crime. Bunnings CEO Mike Schneider said sales of home security products have been climbing for the past 12 to 18 months.
“Sales have been steadily on the rise, we’ve definitely seen it for 12, 18 months, and I think that’s been complemented by what I would say is quite an accelerated level of simplification of a lot of these products,” he said
Bunnings is offering grants of $5,000, as well as $30,000 for larger projects, to local groups and organisations looking to improve safety for their people and premises. The Safer Places Fund is backed by Bunnings and home security providers Arlo, Eufy, Orion, Reolink and Swann. For every eligible security camera or video doorbell bought at Bunnings until February 2027, $2 will go towards the grants.
The first round of applications in Victoria opens today, with other states set to follow in coming months.
Bunnings Managing Director, Michael Schneider, said its Safer Places initiative will allow Victorians to “make a real difference in their neighbourhoods”.
“We’ve taken strong steps to tackle retail crime in our stores, but we know crime doesn’t stop at the shopfront,” he said.
Safer Places Network Founder, David Bartlett, said “home security footage can play an important role in crime prevention”.
“70 per cent of investigations are relying on CCTV evidence,” he said.
Victorians appear especially concerned. Bunnings data shows 51 per cent identify youth crime as a major issue. They are also the most likely in the country to install extra home security, at 25 per cent, and to avoid certain parks or public places, at 21 per cent. The concern comes as Victoria records a sharp rise in community crime offences, with robberies and home invasions widespread across the state. According to the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency, community crime offences rose by 13 per cent and home invasion-related crimes increased by 27 per cent over the past year.
Queenslanders reported the highest level of concern nationally about youth crime, with 53 per cent saying it was a problem, while 48 per cent were also worried about break-ins and property crime. In NSW, more than one in four residents still avoid walking alone after dark, and 16 per cent have installed additional home security systems.
Community groups affected by crime are also looking to the new grants. Riding for the Disabled Association Victoria spokesperson Liz Dwyer said they will apply for a Bunnings grant to help protect their property. In July, thieves broke into their facility at Viewbank, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, and stole $13,000 worth of equipment, including tractors, trailers, whipper snippers, chainsaws and other tools, the Herald Sun reported.
