In the three months since its inception, 105 thieves have been banned from entering the businesses of hard-working Launcestonians, $15,000 in stolen goods have been recovered and 103 people will face their time in court.

Bravo.

When launched in September, people that think it is OK to obtain goods without payment were running riot.

Businesses were pleading with the public on social media almost nightly, asking for help to identify sticky-fingered culprits that had raided their stores.

They had had enough of seeing their goods walk out the door in the hand of selfish individuals. And it appears the taskforce initiative, whereby businesses are encouraged to report the criminal behaviour and trespass notices are dished, has had a positive impact.

Tasmania Police said the method has resulted in a 20 per cent increase in charges being laid for shop stealing matters. 

The taskforce will cease in the New Year, but co-joined efforts to curb such actions will not.

It's estimated that shop stealing costs Tasmanian retailers more than $200 million in revenue each year.

That's a lot of money not helping keep the Tasmanian economy strong and helping families make ends meet.

It's a serious issue and the more that can be done, the better.

The Security and Investigations Agents Amendment Bill 2018, set for further debate in the Legislative Council next year, would also go a long way to giving business owners more power.

The proposed law would exempt retail staff from a requirement to hold a security licence in order to conduct bag checks.

What may sound like an invasion of privacy to some, would be to those with nothing to hide and the business community, a useful tool to combat the unnecessary loss of income and goods to the fingers of the minority.

Let’s hope it passes.