Shoplifting offenses soar to record high in England and Wales, surpassing half a million

LONDON, ENGLAND: Shoplifting offenses in England and Wales have surged to a record high, surpassing half a million for the first time in 2024. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a total of 516,971 shoplifting incidents were recorded in the previous year, marking a significant 20 percent increase from 429,873 in 2023.

This is the highest number recorded since current police counting methods were established in 2003, although retailers caution that these figures significantly underrepresent the true extent of the issue.

The rise in shoplifting, which has been escalating since the pandemic, has contributed to an overall increase in theft across England and Wales. Experts attribute this trend partly to pressured household finances amidst rising inflation, while the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has pointed to organised gangs conducting thefts on demand.

Tom Ironside, the BRC’s director of business and regulation, noted that the ONS statistics underestimate the problem, equating to fewer than two incidents per retail establishment each year. “Most shopkeepers would say they are fortunate if a day passes without a shoplifting incident,” he remarked. The BRC’s survey of major retailers estimates over 20 million shoplifting incidents occur annually, with many going unreported due to a lack of confidence in police responsiveness.

Retailers estimate that shop theft costs them upwards of £2.2 billion annually, prompting a combined expenditure of £1.8 million on crime prevention measures. In light of the rising retail crime, the BRC has urged for increased police resources to address the issue’s impact on businesses and employees.

Google close to picking sites in India for first retail stores outside US

Beyond financial implications, retail workers express concern over the violence and abuse they face while managing shoplifting. According to a survey by the retail trade union Usdaw, two-thirds of about 9,500 retail workers reported that incidents of violence and threats were often linked to theft or armed robbery. Usdaw’s general secretary Paddy Lillis stated that the ongoing threat of shoplifting leads to increased anxiety and potential harm for workers.

James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, called the reported retail thefts “only the tip of the iceberg.” Meanwhile, fraud incidents also spiked by a third in 2024 to 4.1 million, as reported by the ONS, which includes 2.4 million cases of bank and credit account fraud and a 35% increase in consumer and retail fraud incidents.

Consumer advocacy group Which? has urged the government to take action against the surge of online scam advertisements through the full implementation of the Online Safety Act. Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which?, highlighted the need for stringent regulations on online advertising to combat the rise of fraudulent schemes, especially those falsely promoted by celebrities on popular websites.