Coles will shut down a store in Melbourne’s CBD as Victoria is branded a “national hotspot” for surging theft and violent assaults against retail workers. The Elizabeth St store will pack up at the end of its lease in mid-2027, the supermarket giant confirmed to The Herald Sun, maintaining it was a commercial decision. The property is located on one of Melbourne’s busiest CBD thoroughfares and has been listed for lease on commercial property sites. A Coles spokesperson said the company was “constantly evaluating our store network to ensure we are delivering the best shopping experience for our customers”.“As part of this process, we are currently exploring opportunities for a potential new supermarket location in Melbourne’s CBD,” the spokesperson said.“Our Elizabeth St supermarket will continue to trade as normal until mid-2027. “We’ll keep our team members and customers informed as soon as we confirm plans for a new location.”An Australian Retail Council (ARC) spokesperson said retail crime was at elevated levels across the country but Victoria remained the “national hotspot”. “Many retailers are repeatedly targeted and simply can’t sustain the ongoing impact on their teams, their stores or their products,” the spokesperson said.“Sometimes it’s all simply overwhelming for business and they choose to relocate or remove a store entirely.”Herald Sun columnist Steve Price recently described the Elizabeth St corner as “like a Third World country” and a “blight” on the city.“Who could blame Coles for leaving, why would they want to put their staff at risk?” Mr Price wrote.It comes after Coles released shocking CCTV footage in May showing a staff member being attacked and dragged across the floor by her hair, along with thieves leaving with trolleys full of food. Coles State Manager Chris McKellar said last month that the Victorian team “continue to face unacceptable levels of abuse, aggression and threatening behaviour”.In August, the Aussie retailer also singled out Victoria as the state where it saw the “highest proportion of organised retail crime by individuals who pay no attention to the law”.In 2023, Coles introduced body cameras at some of its most high-risk stores as it tried to fight back against shoplifting and threats against staff. Read related topics:Melbourne