Brit shoppers have been issued an urgent warning. According to several leading high street experts, a “shop lifting epidemic” is currently plaguing the UK with more than 60% of Brits admitting to having witnessed a theft in action.
The claims were made by Kate Hardcastle, also known as “the Customer Whisperer” who was speaking as part of a panel discussing the alarming rise in retail crime. She said: “It is a massive national reality; it is an epidemic; it is growing.
At that peak period, you want to make customers aware of the realities you’re dealing with, what you’re doing about it, how you appreciate their support and help at that time.”
READ MORE: Brits targeted in new wave of ‘anti-tourist’ protests in Spain as locals chant ‘go home’
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
During the event hosted by X-hoppers, it was also revealed that around 80% of shoppers consider store safety a critical factor in their shopping decisions, which is set to increase during the busy festive shopping period.
Also on the panel Fiona Malone, the Non Executive Director at Association of Convenience Stores, who issued an ominous warning to British shoppers.
She said: “Shoplifting isn’t a victimless crime; it affects real people and real families. Every theft takes food off my children’s table and threatens the existence of our local businesses.”
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)
The comments come just a few weeks after the boss of fast fashion brand Primark claimed that the losses suffered from shoplifting now outweigh what the company pays in business rates – with the latter hitting around the £70m per year mark.
George Weston said: “The cost of shoplifting is now bigger than our bill for rates. We can put cameras in and tighten our security but at the end it is a societal issue, so the solution has to be one of policy.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.