Security experts have warned shoppers to stay vigilant as brazen ‘storming’ incidents hit record levels, with 519,000 offences recorded in England and Wales
Top security specialists have alerted UK consumers to a concerning surge in audacious “storming” incidents at supermarkets that’s anticipated to escalate further. Kingdom Security, which assists supermarkets and retail centres across Britain in combating theft and shop-related offences, has predicted that brazen shoplifting episodes will increase this year.
Retail theft has reached unprecedented levels over the past year, with crimes now at their highest recorded point in England and Wales. With 519,000 incidents logged in the year ending September 2025, according to ONS data, retailers maintain that official statistics still grossly underrepresent the scale of the issue.
Kevin Burton, Regional Service Director at Kingdom Security, explains that the increase stems partly from organised criminals boldly pilfering goods to order in stores nationwide.
“We are dealing with people stealing out of necessity, if they can’t afford food, and they usually only take what they need, but we are also seeing a worrying rise in ‘storming’ from more professional, and brazen, shoplifters.”
Storming describes the increasingly daring and violent retail theft witnessed throughout Britain, where thieves operate in groups of 2 or more to enter premises and seize whatever they can. Given that it involves multiple perpetrators, these criminals tend to be more violent, erratic and hostile, menacing both staff and customers.
“Shoplifting is becoming more and more brazen, which is a concern for the safety of shop staff, shoppers and security staff,” warns Kevin. “If people are willing to steal without any pretence, what else are they willing to do?”.
“Shoplifting is no longer a victimless crime – if it ever was. The shoplifters storming into supermarkets, sweeping spirits off the shelves, and emptying entire aisles of laundry detergent, are also threatening staff with knives, verbally abusing people and overall acting very aggressively. Security staff are there to protect shop workers and customers, as well as recover stolen items, but there is a good chance that many perpetrators are carrying knives, and in that case the safety of everyone needs to come first.”
Kevin urges shoppers to stay alert to the escalating violent incidents of shoplifting, encouraging them to keep notifying security staff and steer clear of any shoplifters exhibiting aggressive behaviour.
“Luckily, security guarding and advanced technology means we can identify repeat offenders and work to keep the public safe and continue to deter would-be shoplifters,” Kevin adds.
“We try to ask people who are caught stealing why they are stealing, and educate them on the impact on supermarkets, shop workers, security and themselves. But with storming, it is harder to communicate with people, as they are often aggressive to staff.”
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