IGA Plus Liquor owner Bob Mathews said in the past six months groups of young people from out of town had stolen between $1000 and $1500 of liquor.

“These people are ferals, that’s what they are,” he said.

“It’s like an epidemic.

“Being a grocer used to be about loving to serve customers, the last thing I want to do is become a policeman. It’s very sad.”

Mr Mathews said groups of up to four thieves would work together to steal top-shelf alcohol, such as bourbon, with some creating a diversion in another part of the store while their accomplices put the product down their pants.

He said that the thieves knew the layout of the store, knew the times when fewer staff were working and parked where staff could not see their numberplates.

“They’re not locals,” he said.

“Our staff live locally and know the locals, Jindera only has a population of 900.

“They all have the same strategy which makes me think they know each other and talk about strategy.”

Mr Mathews and his wife Geraldine own four stores and say they have a similar problem at their Howlong shop.

He said the theft at Jindera meant he would have to install security cameras which would cost between $10,000 and $12,000.

“Someone has to pay for that,” he said.

“We have to try and get that back and unfortunately it goes on the cost of products.”

The Howlong store already has surveillance.

Mr Mathews said he was working with police on the issue and wanted to deter the offenders.

He said he and other staff at the family-owned businesses had tried talking to suspected thieves.

But the thieves became abusive and he feared for the safety of his workers.

“The last thing I want is my staff being punched in the nose,” Mr Mathews said.

As a prevention one entrance to the liquor section at the Jindera store, next to the main entry, has been chained off.

The entrance has also been blocked with a park bench.