Number of shoplifting cases hit highest on record

Local TV

The British Retail Consortium report an estimated loss to shops and their owners of £1.8bn last year. An increase on the £950m worth of shoplifting related losses from the previous dataset.

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00:00The number of shoplifting offences has reached its highest rate on record. The Office for

00:07National Statistics report that last year there were a record 430,000 cases in the UK,

00:13more than a third more than in 2022. But as one of the most unreported and oftentimes

00:17unsolved offences, it's thought the real number could be much higher. How much damage is it

00:22doing to UK business? The British Retail Consortium reported an estimated loss to shops and their

00:27owners of £1.8bn between the start of September 2022 and the end of August last year. A huge

00:34increase on the £950m worth of shoplifting related losses from the previous data set.

00:40But why have the last few years brought with them such a sharp rise in shoplifting cases?

00:44Many point out the sharpest increase occurred as the cost of living crisis worsened. Some

00:49retail experts believe many are stealing on a large scale to resell to people struggling

00:53to make ends meet. Do you have any sympathy for those forced to turn to theft? Or should

00:57they face the full force of the law? And if you saw someone shoplifting, would you step

01:01in or turn a blind eye?

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