Retail crime in the UK has reached alarming levels, with shoplifters engaging in increasingly bold and violent acts of theft, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
In its latest annual crime survey, the BRC highlighted a significant rise in shoplifting incidents and violent abuse against shopworkers, prompting urgent calls for action.
The survey, which represents more than 200 major retailers, revealed that incidents of customer theft surged by 3.7 million to a staggering 20.4 million in the 12 months leading up to September 2024.
This spike in shoplifting is estimated to have cost retailers £2 billion. However, the BRC also noted a disturbing rise in the frequency and intensity of violence against shopworkers.
Reports of violence and abuse soared by 50%, with an average of more than 2,000 such incidents occurring daily across the country.
The BRC’s chief executive, Helen Dickinson, described the situation as “outrageous and out of control” in many parts of the country. She explained that offenders have become increasingly fearless because they believe there are no consequences for their actions.
This perception is exacerbated by the fact that many shoplifters, often members of organised gangs, are carrying out thefts in plain sight, sometimes in front of customers, staff, and even security officers who are reluctant to intervene.
A growing trend known as “kamikaze” shoplifting has emerged, where thieves brazenly clear shelves of items with little regard for the consequences.
A recent incident on London’s Oxford Street involved two men kicking down a phone stand in full view of customers and shop workers. The stand was believed to contain dummy phones, which could be sold online as real devices, tricking unsuspecting buyers.
Despite the fact that the suspects were caught on camera, the Metropolitan Police were unable to locate them, even after conducting a search of the area. A police investigation into the incident is underway.
Security personnel have also reported an alarming rise in violence, with some even sustaining injuries in the line of duty.
Jason Towse, security director at facilities management firm Mitie, noted that 10% of the 10,000 security guards the company supplies to the UK retail sector were injured while on duty in 2024.
Towse suggested that shoplifters have become more emboldened due to police resources being increasingly focused on high-profile crimes, leaving retailers to cope with growing incidents of theft and aggression.
Shop owners have expressed concerns about the escalating violence. Amit Puntambekar, a shopkeeper from Cambridgeshire, recalled being punched in the face by a suspected thief earlier this year.
Puntambekar, who owns a family-run store that has been in operation for nearly four decades, said the rise in violent incidents had made him question his future in the business.
“I don’t want to die at work,” he said, adding that he feels powerless when the police fail to take threats seriously.
To tackle the growing wave of retail crime, several retailers have increased investments in security measures, including CCTV systems, body-worn cameras for staff, and more security personnel.
The government has also launched initiatives like Project Pegasus, an intelligence-sharing partnership between retailers and law enforcement, aimed at curbing organised thefts and addressing prolific offenders.
While these efforts are being made, the BRC has stressed the need for more robust action to address retail crime, particularly given the financial burden it places on consumers, with shoplifting adding £133 to the average UK household’s shopping bill each year.
Retailers and industry experts are calling for increased police attention to violent incidents and more effective deterrents to prevent the growing trend of shoplifting and abuse.
