Category Archives: Shoplifting

The Guardian website has published an article that looks at the UK’s shoplifting epidemic and asks whether anything can be done to stop it.

The Co-op alone recorded 330,000 incidents of shoplifting, abuse, violence and antisocial behaviour in its 2,500+ stores across the UK in 2023.

The Independent website reports that one in ten independent shops lost more than £10,000 to shoplifting in the last two years.

And, according to the Federation of Small Businesses, even pound shops are having to install new security measures to head off losses in the thousands.

The Coventry Telegraph website reports that police raided a Coventry shop which was reported to be selling stolen goods.

Officers discovered a large amount of stolen coffee, deodorant, medicine, chocolate and washing powder, with Cadbury, Fairy, Colgate and Mars just some of the big-name brands found at the shop.

According to the Mail Online website, blocks of Cathedral City cheddar cheese, costing just £3.85, have become the latest target for shoplifters.

A customer at a Tesco Express in North London spotted a block of the lightly mature cheddar locked away in a security box.

As reported on the Independent website, the chair of Marks and Spencer, Archie Norman, has said the police are “not interested” in shoplifting.

Despite record levels across the UK, Norman said his staff get “very little help from the police” when dealing with theft.

As reported on the Wigan Today website, two shoplifters went on thieving sprees over three months, targeting supermarket chain Morrisons.

Antonio Marin and Valentin-Florin Ionica stole a total of £9,408 worth of goods in 12 strikes in stores in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, the Midlands and the West Country.