Bunnings, Kmart workers facing more than 1000 physical assaults a month

Bunnings and Kmart retail workers are facing more than 1000 physical assaults and threats from customers every month, with weapons involved in some cases.

The shocking figure was revealed yesterday by the retail giants' parent company, Wesfarmers.

Speaking at the group's annual general meeting, chief executive Rob Scott said incidents involving threats of serious harm in Bunnings stores jumped by 66 per cent while those at Kmart rose 29 per cent.

READ MORE: 'Out of control': Retail workers fear rise in customer abuse amid cost-of-living crisis

Shareholders heard there were 13,500 instances of customers threatening workers in the conglomerate's retail stores over 12 months.

From more than 1000 of those incidents, physical assault or a serious threat of harm, often involving a weapon, were recorded.

Scott said the company has beefed up security at high-risk locations, trained workers in de-escalation tactics and introduced body-worn cameras.

In an effort to combat the crisis, information had been shared with peer retailers, governments and police.

"We support sensible reform, including tougher, nationally consistent penalties for violent retail crime and a national conversation to enable controlled, responsible use of technology to exclude known violent offenders from retail environments," Scott said.

READ MORE: Prince Andrew to be stripped of all royal titles, evicted from residence

The concerning Wesfarmers' figures coincided with new research showing Victoria was the country's retail crime hotspot, with many residents blasting the state government for a lack of action.

The report by the Australian Retailers Association and National Retail Association found 79 per cent of Victorians were concerned over crime in stores and businesses.

Almost 90 per cent backed tougher penalties against offenders harming or threatening retail workers in the state.

The government of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen has made bail laws tougher, but has come under fire from not doing more to target repeat offenders who threaten or attack retail workers.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.