Shoplifting Surges to Record High, Straining Retailers During Holiday Season

Rising thefts, unsolved cases, and organized crime groups are fueling a retail crime crisis as shop workers call for increased policing.

Shoplifting cases in England and Wales reached a record high, with 443,995 incidents reported in the year to March 2024, a 30% increase from the previous year.
More than half of shoplifting cases (56.4%) were closed without a suspect being identified, and only 17.2% led to charges or summons, down from 21.2% five years ago.
Organized crime groups are increasingly targeting high-value items, with police identifying 28 gangs and arresting 93 suspects under a new anti-shoplifting initiative.
Retailers report that theft is adding significant costs, with £1.8 billion worth of goods stolen annually and £700 million spent on additional security measures.
Calls for action include reinstating neighborhood policing, reversing lenient laws on low-value theft, and introducing tougher penalties for assaults on shop workers.