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Northern Territory businesses are calling for the Government to crack down on crime as a new survey has revealed theft and vandalism is costing some hundreds of thousands of dollars.
About 400 businesses responded to the NT Chamber of Commerce's (NTCC) online survey, with more than 70 per cent claiming they had been victims of crime within the last 12 months, relating to mostly break-ins, property damage and stolen goods.
The crime had cost businesses anywhere from $1,000 to losses of up to $200,000, in the case of one Alice Springs business.
Darwin beauty shop owner Kani Tezaris's business was broken into in February, just three months after she opened.
"I may as well sit at home because we're just too much out of pocket. It's pretty sad," she said.
Cafe owner Tony Mazza said they have been broken into four times this year alone, and that the Government should get tougher on crime.
"I think [more] police would help a great deal but also there are no consequences for the repeat offenders," Mr Mazza said.
The survey also revealed most businesses did not bother lodging an insurance claim because of high excesses or increased premiums.
"It's just not worth making any claim on insurance because the premiums go up. Better to leave it for something really serious," Mr Mazza said.
The NTCC said the results are proof the Government needed to take action.
"Invest in further education and diversionary programs. I am aware they've done some good moves in this regard, I know they're introducing the Banned Drinkers Register (BDR), however, business wants action now and this budget gives them the chance to do so," acting CEO Brian O'Gallagher said.
The Government said its new alcohol policy and key election promise, the reinstatement of the Banned Drinkers Register (BDR), will help address businesses' concerns.
"We certainly feel the frustration of the business community and we're listening to them," Justice Minister Natasha Fyles said.
Ms Fyles said businesses would not have to pay for the installation and maintenance of the scanners used to operate the BDR.
The scheme will roll out again in September and the Government said it would reinstall some of the same scanners used before the Country Liberals Party scrapped the register in 2012.
Ms Fyles said the Government had set aside $1.7 million in next month's budget for the equipment and software.
"We don't want to have a cost on business, we know Territory businesses are doing it tough," she said.
"Government will provide for the physical computers and scanners, we will provide for the software."
Licensee Ron Townsend manages a bottle shop in Hidden Valley and said there were no assurances the technology will work.
"There was always a way around it, there are devious people," Mr Townsend said.
"We noticed last time it happened that we actually had more shoplifting offences here and I expect that to go up again, because that's what happens."
The scanners are ready to go, but the BDR would not be reinstated until September 1.
Topics: small-business, crime, crime-prevention, business-economics-and-finance, government-and-politics, darwin-0800, nt