Violent thugs ‘systematically’ goal tens of millions of shops in shoplifting marketing campaign
A whopping 5.5m incidents of shoplifting were detected last year, costing the industry an estimated £400m, with stores being ‘systematically’ targeted by gangs
Shoplifting cost stores £400m last year(Image: Getty Images)
Millions of shops are being “systematically” targeted by criminal gangs carrying out a campaign of shoplifting and violence.
A whopping 5.5m incidents of shoplifting were detected last year, costing the industry an estimated £400m, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said.
The trade association warned that “endemic” violence towards shop workers resulted in them facing an average of 36 violent incidents involving a weapon every day last year.
High levels of theft are also causing anxiety among retail staff, it said.
The BRC’s annual report shows the overall violent incidents fell from 2,000 a day to 1,600, but this is still the second highest level on record.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Violence remains endemic.
“No-one should go to work fearing for their safety, and we must redouble our efforts to bring these numbers much further down once and for all.”
She warned that theft remains “a huge issue” with organised gangs stealing tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods in one go.
Ms Dickinson called on police to commit “dedicated resourcing” to tackle the problem.
Usdaw shopworkers’ union general secretary Joanne Thomas said: “Retail workers continue to face unacceptable levels of violence and abuse simply as a result of going to work.
“The 5.5 million incidents of shop theft are in no way a victimless crime.”
She highlighted Usdaw evidence showing two-thirds of attacks on retail staff are triggered by theft or armed robbery.
“Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers,” she added.
The Government’s upcoming crime and policing bill will introduce a standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker and remove the £200 threshold for “low level” theft.
