Shoplifters have change into extra brazen
As “kamikaze” shoplifting sweeps Britain, a brand new crime map has revealed the Devon and Cornwall excessive streets most tormented by the retail theft “epidemic” – see the way it compares the place you reside.
Police in England and Wales recorded greater than 500,000 shoplifting offences in 2024, an enormous 20% surge on the earlier yr and the best quantity since data started greater than 20 years in the past.
That features 10,325 shoplifting crimes recorded by Devon and Cornwall Police, a 36% improve.
It comes as shoplifters change into extra brazen of their makes an attempt to steal.A couple of in two retail staff (56%) say they’ve witnessed so-called “kamikaze” shoplifting—thefts that happen in plain sight—of their workplaces.
Round one in eight (13%) say it’s a every day prevalence, whereas greater than a 3rd (37%) see it taking place at the very least as soon as per week, in keeping with analysis from office operations and enchancment platform SafetyCulture.
The British Impartial Retail Affiliation (Bira) has described the rise in Kamikaze shoplifting as a “tipping level.” Bira says it exhibits that some criminals consider they will “stroll into a store, take what they need in full view of employees and prospects, and stroll out figuring out there might be no penalties.”
On the similar time, safety companies are reporting a “huge improve in pensioners shoplifting” pushed by cost-of-living pressures.
John Nussbaum, director of service for retail for safety companies supplier Kingdom Service, instructed PA Information: “For us during the last 12 months, we’ve received this totally different stage of crime now. We’re now experiencing one thing totally different—pensioners, individuals who don’t usually shoplift.”
Now, hyperlocal police figures have revealed town and city centres most tormented by theft.
Final yr, police recorded 708 offences of shoplifting in Exeter’s St Thomas East district, way over another neighbourhood space in Devon and Cornwall. That’s the equal of a theft each 12 hours—and that solely contains crimes which might be noticed and reported. The crimes are probably linked to Exe Bridges retail park.
Central Exeter had the second-highest variety of offences with 649, adopted by Plymouth’s Metropolis Centre, Barbican & Sutton Harbour (583 crime studies), and Torbay Central (299).
You may see the way it compares close to you utilizing our interactive map
‘Spiralling uncontrolled’
Jeff Moody, Bira’s Chief Industrial Officer, mentioned: “The newest ONS figures displaying a 20% improve in shoplifting to a report 500,000 crime studies verify what our members have been telling us for months—retail crime is spiralling uncontrolled, and unbiased retailers are bearing the brunt of it.
“The truth that shoplifting has reached this unprecedented stage is frankly alarming, but it surely’s the brazen nature of those crimes that is significantly regarding.
“This so-called ‘kamikaze’ shoplifting – the place thieves steal in plain sight with full impunity – is completely a phenomenon we’re seeing reported by our members.
“Our personal Bira crime survey, performed in April, paints a good starker image for unbiased retailers particularly – over 80% skilled theft previously 12 months, with 90% of incidents taking place throughout opening hours.
“What’s significantly troubling is that half of our members at the moment are selecting to not report thefts as a result of they’ve misplaced religion in getting any significant response.
“The hurt to retailers goes far past the quick monetary loss. Impartial companies function on wafer-thin margins, and each theft chips away at their means to take a position, develop, and make use of folks. However there’s additionally the human value – our survey exhibits that just about 40% of outlets skilled verbal abuse, with many describing aggressive confrontations that go away employees feeling susceptible and demoralised.
“When criminals can stroll into a store, take what they need in full view of employees and prospects, and stroll out figuring out there might be no penalties, we have reached a tipping level. These aren’t simply statistics – they characterize actual folks making an attempt to serve their communities, and actual companies which might be the spine of our excessive streets.
“We’d like pressing motion from police forces to deal with retail crime with the seriousness it deserves, and for the courts to ship a transparent message that this behaviour will not be tolerated. Our unbiased retailers deserve higher safety than they’re presently receiving.”
Crime figures can be found for each one in every of greater than 7,000 neighbourhoods in England and Wales, besides areas lined by Higher Manchester Police, because the power has not equipped crime information for the final yr.
Crime figures can be found for neighbourhoods with between 7,000 and 10,000 residents, which the federal government designates as Center Tremendous Output Areas (MSOAs).
The statistics don’t embrace crimes reported at practice stations, as British Transport Police report them.
Shoplifting was first described as an “epidemic” in 2023 by Dame Sharon White, the chair of John Lewis Partnership, and since then, crime—and the fee to retailers—has spiralled.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) mentioned retailers footed an “eye-watering” £4.2 billion invoice from crime final yr, together with £2.2bn misplaced to shoplifting, and £1.8bn spent on crime prevention measures.
Graham Wynn, Assistant Director of Enterprise and Regulation on the BRC, mentioned: “Retail theft is a significant concern for retailers, costing over £2.2bn a yr and performing as a significant set off for violence and abuse in opposition to employees. Whereas the causes are manifold, the rise in organised crime is a major concern, with gangs hitting shops one after one other.
“Sadly, such theft just isn’t a victimless crime; it pushes up the fee for trustworthy buyers and damages the client expertise.”
High 10 Devon neighbourhoods with the best variety of shoplifting crimes
St Thomas East (Exeter) – 708Central Exeter (Exeter) – 649Metropolis Centre, Barbican & Sutton Harbour (Plymouth) – 583Torquay Central (Torbay) – 299Paignton Central (Torbay) – 224Barnstaple Central (North Devon) – 219St James’s Park & Hoopern (Exeter) – 194Ilfracombe East (North Devon) – 175Shiphay & the Willows (Torbay) – 167Ford & Blockhouse Park (Plymouth) – 160
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