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2w ago

UK Retailers Report Surge in Pensioner Shoplifting Linked to Cost-of-Living Crisis

Rising living costs are driving vulnerable groups, including pensioners, to theft as shoplifting offences hit record levels in England and Wales.

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About five per cent of people caught shoplifting by one security firms staff are estimated to be aged over 50

Overview

  • Shoplifting offences in England and Wales reached 516,971 in 2024, a 20% increase from the previous year and the highest since 2003, according to the Office for National Statistics.
  • Kingdom Security reports 20–30 weekly incidents involving individuals unable to afford food, with pensioners comprising 5% of those apprehended.
  • Retailers are handling elderly offenders internally to avoid negative publicity, as desperation drives theft of basic items like coffee.
  • Organised shoplifting gangs are escalating violence, with daily incidents of assaults and weapons found at retail sites, prompting staff to wear protective gear.
  • Facial-recognition technology trials, such as those in Asda stores in Greater Manchester, aim to curb theft and identify repeat offenders, including violent individuals.