Category Archives: Shoplifting

As reported on the Business Matters Magazine website, shoplifting offences are soaring, with criminals seemingly operating “without fear of apprehension.”

The Office for National Statistics reported a 30% increase in annual shoplifting offences, with 443,995 incidents recorded in the year to March 2024.

The Mail Online website reveals that just 12 organised crime gangs are allegedly behind a quarter of all shoplifting offences across England and Wales.

A joint operation between police and retailers has revealed that some foreign offenders working for gangs are flying in to steal on budget flights.

According to the BBC News website, the head of security at the Planet Organic chain has said the company loses “£900,000 a year” from shoplifting.

Richard Fowler said some shoppers feel “entitled” to steal from the chain, because they shop there regularly.

According to the Advertiser and Times website, four thieves snatched hundreds of pounds of meat from a family-run local produce store in New Milton.

Staff at Ferndene Farm Shop were stunned after being targeted during a quiet afternoon the quartet who stole the high-value goods in minutes.

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.