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Retail crime and safety threats in Australia are intensifying. According to recent reports, retail theft and related incidents now cost Australian businesses up to A$9 billion each year. Even more alarming is the rise in violent retail encounters: 2024 saw a 66% increase in weapon-related events, including a 40% spike in knife-related cases.
These are not isolated to big cities or retail giants. Schools, offices and logistics hubs across regional Australia are also facing high-impact threats. Traditional CCTV, while useful for post-incident review, often fails to provide the immediate situational awareness required to prevent or respond in real time.
Why Businesses and Schools Need AI-Powered Cameras
Conventional camera systems act as passive observers. They record, but they don’t react. AI-powered systems like Coram change the equation entirely. Instead of waiting for a human to spot a threat in recorded footage, Coram’s AI analyses video feeds in real time and pushes alerts the moment it detects:
- A visible weapon
- Intrusion into restricted areas
- Safety violations (e.g., lack of PPE)
- Unusual behaviors such as loitering or erratic movement
These capabilities don’t just improve safety—they dramatically speed up decision-making and response, potentially preventing loss or injury.
A Recent Weapon Scare in Queensland
In a widely reported 2025 incident, a 19-year-old in Yeppoon, Queensland pointed what appeared to be a handgun at two schoolchildren while filming the act for social media. Though the weapon turned out to be fake, the children were traumatised and the school community shaken.
Had an AI-powered detection system been in place, staff or law enforcement could have received an alert within seconds—potentially containing the panic and accelerating the response.
Tasmania has seen its share of high-risk security events in both commercial and educational settings.
- In July 2025, thieves armed with axes raided luxury goods reseller Mismo Cielo in Hobart, escaping with designer merchandise after setting their getaway vehicle on fire.
- Earlier in the year, Lindisfarne Primary School in the same city went into lockdown when police chased an armed suspect just metres from the school grounds.
These events show that even regional sites need proactive, real-time threat detection—not just silent footage to review after the fact.
What Is Coram?
Coram is an AI-powered security camera platform that transforms ordinary surveillance systems into intelligent threat-detection networks. Unlike traditional CCTV, Coram integrates computer vision directly into your existing camera infrastructure, offering real-time insights and alerts.
Key features include:
- Edge AI processing for weapons, intrusions, unauthorised access and safety violations
- Smart Search, allowing users to locate footage instantly with plain-language queries like “man in red jacket at loading dock 14:00–15:00”
- Dual-carrier LTE failover, ensuring continuous recording and alerting even during local network outages
- Open API integrations, allowing Coram to connect with POS, access control and warehouse management systems
“Cameras should not just record—they should understand what’s wrong in a scene and prove what went right later,” says Ashesh Jain, CEO of Coram.
How to Implement Coram at Your Site
- Start with a risk audit: Identify zones like loading bays, playgrounds, cash rooms or emergency exits.
- Connect your systems: Coram integrates easily with access control, alarms and WMS platforms.
- Configure alerts by role: Security staff receive real-time alerts, while leadership can view analytics dashboards.
- Conduct quarterly reviews: Use incident heatmaps and event history to refine camera placement and alert rules.
Final Thoughts
Australia’s surge in violent theft and safety incidents highlights the limitations of traditional video surveillance. AI-enabled systems like Coram bridge that gap—detecting threats in real time, improving coordination and ensuring every incident is supported with high-quality, time-stamped footage.
Whether you run a school in Tasmania or a retail hub in Melbourne, Coram offers the intelligence and speed needed to keep people, property, and operations safe in 2025 and beyond.
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