Retailers suffer shoplifting surge

UK retailers are being hindered by a marked rise in shoplifting during the economic downturn, a new survey has shown.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) Crime Survey revealed that shop thefts increased by a third from 2008 to 2009. This amassed to nearly half a million thefts, costing the retail industry in the region of £1.1 billion.

Stephen Robertson, Director General of the BRC, commented:

“It's shocking that a shop theft happens almost every minute, 24 hours a day. The police and criminal justice system must take retail theft more seriously.”

Robertson added that shoplifting is never a victimless crime, and serves to push prices up for honest customers and impacts the welfare of employees involved. In terms of violence and verbal abuse, the survey showed that at least 22,000 staff members have been personally targeted by customers.

Larger stores with relatively low numbers of staff were shown to be more susceptible to theft than smaller shops.