Retail Crime Reaches Crisis Levels as Shoplifting and Attacks Surge

[Social Media]

 

Retail crime in the UK has hit an all-time high, with theft and violence against shop workers escalating at an alarming rate. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), shoplifting is now “spiralling out of control,” while store workers face up to 2,000 incidents of violence and abuse every day.  

 

The BRC’s annual crime survey revealed a staggering 50% increase in incidents of violence and abuse compared to the previous year. Weapons-related attacks on retail staff have more than doubled since 2023. The survey also recorded over 20 million shoplifting incidents in 2024, equivalent to more than 55,000 thefts per day.

Apple Store in north London raided and robbed by a “large group of masked youths.”

Met Police arrested six of them between ages 14 and 18 on suspicion of robbery.

England is in chaos as people get prosecuted harsher for social posts than for stealing devices they post from. pic.twitter.com/Yhg6OBme6E

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 6, 2025

 

Retailers collectively lost £2.2 billion to theft last year, up from £2.1 billion the year before. Helen Dickinson, the BRC’s chief executive, warned that the situation is worsening. “Retail crime is spiralling out of control. People in retail have been spat on, racially abused, and threatened with machetes. Every day this continues, criminals are getting bolder and more aggressive. We owe it to the 3 million hard-working people working in retail to bring the epidemic of crime to heel. No one should go to work in fear.”  

 

Labour has pledged to tackle the crisis, promising to end the “shameful neglect” of retail crime. Meanwhile, the Government is introducing new laws under the Crime and Sentencing Bill, making assaults on shop workers punishable by up to six months in jail. Shoplifters could also be banned from stores where they have committed offences. Additionally, the Government is reversing the so-called "shoplifters’ charter," which effectively decriminalised thefts of items worth less than £200.

 

However, some officials argue these measures do not go far enough. Lord Foster of Bath, chairman of the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee, has urged authorities to stop using the term "shoplifting," arguing it trivialises what is often organised criminal activity. He also called for new regulations to prevent criminals from anonymously reselling stolen goods online.  

 

Retailers have expressed frustration with the police response to shoplifting and violence. According to the BRC survey, 61% of respondents described police responses as “poor” or “very poor.” Helen Dickinson stressed that businesses are investing heavily in security, but cannot fight crime alone.

 

“With little faith in police attendance, it is no wonder criminals feel they have licence to steal, threaten, assault, and abuse. Retailers are spending more than ever before, but they cannot prevent crime alone.” Last year, businesses spent £1.8 billion on security measures such as CCTV and body cameras, a significant rise from £1.2 billion the previous year. Some retailers have also introduced DNA testing kits to help police track down abusive customers. Tesco, for example, has provided its delivery drivers with "spit kits" to identify offenders.  

 

Fears of rising organised crime are growing. James Bailey, managing director of Waitrose, has reported an increase in armed assaults on staff, noting that gangs are now "shoplifting to order," stealing specific products for resale. The BRC survey is considered one of the most comprehensive indicators of retail crime in the country, as official police figures only account for reported incidents.  

 

Official statistics show that 469,788 shoplifting offences were reported to police in the year to June 2024, a 29% rise from the previous year’s total of 365,173. However, only one in six shoplifters are caught and charged. Ministry of Justice research indicates that shoplifters are among the most likely offenders to reoffend. Between March 2017 and March 2022, nearly 80,000 shoplifters were convicted again within a year of their previous offence, with data suggesting that six in ten reoffend within 12 months.  

 

Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Crime, Policing, and Fire, condemned the rising violence against retail staff. “The rising levels of shop theft and violence against retail staff are utterly unacceptable. We will not stand for this. That is why this Government has made clear we will introduce a new specific offence of assaulting a retail worker and end the effective immunity that currently applies for theft of goods under £200. And it is why as part of our Safer Streets Mission we are restoring neighbourhood policing, putting thousands of dedicated officers and community support officers back on our streets, and ensuring every community has a named local officer they can turn to.”

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2025-01-31

 

 

[Watawattana]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

Retailers have expressed frustration with the police response to shoplifting and violence. According to the BRC survey, 61% of respondents described police responses as “poor” or “very poor.”

Please don't blame the Police.  They have political bosses who drive the priorities of the Police, and successive governments have failed to properly support society (family cohesion and mental health are only 2 examples), leading to people thinking it's okay to become a thief.  Just look across the Pond at how a strong leader can change the priorities in an instant; it's not difficult.

 

It just takes strength, removing funding from places that should not have it, and redirecting that funding to places that do.

 

Britain is a failing state on numerous levels, and I don't see it getting better under Labour, and I have zero confidence in any other party's willingness to make those hard choices.

 

Make UK Great Again! But MUGA doesn't have the same ring as MAGA... 😂  Sounds too much like mugger...

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, Watawattana said:

Please don't blame the Police.  They have political bosses who drive the priorities of the Police, and successive governments have failed to properly support society (family cohesion and mental health are only 2 examples), leading to people thinking it's okay to become a thief.  Just look across the Pond at how a strong leader can change the priorities in an instant; it's not difficult.

 

It just takes strength, removing funding from places that should not have it, and redirecting that funding to places that do.

 

Britain is a failing state on numerous levels, and I don't see it getting better under Labour, and I have zero confidence in any other party's willingness to make those hard choices.

 

Make UK Great Again! But MUGA doesn't have the same ring as MAGA... 😂  Sounds too much like mugger...

Theft was uncommon in Germany under the Hitler regime as well.

[Nick Carter icp]

3 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Theft was uncommon in Germany under the Hitler regime as well.

 

   Didn't they try to steal Poland ?

[soalbundy]

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Didn't they try to steal Poland ?

I wrote, 'in Germany'

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, soalbundy said:

I wrote, 'in Germany'

 

  And I wrote about what the Hitler regime in Germany did 

[soalbundy]

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  And I wrote about what the Hitler regime in Germany did 

We all know about the German fascist terror regime so why hope for a repeat performance in the UK, it's America's problem we don't need to import it.

[Confuscious]

Introduce the Sharia Law.

If you are caught stealing, your hand will be chopped off.

Easy peasy

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

We all know about the German fascist terror regime so why hope for a repeat performance in the UK, it's America's problem we don't need to import it.

 

   Like, are you suggesting that if the UK clamps down on shoplifters , then there will be a Fourth Reich Nazi regime in the UK ?

  I cannot see that connection myself .

[Yellowtail]

The only reason shoplifting is illegal is because the rich do not need to. 

 

Why should people just be able to take what they want? 

[herfiehandbag]

13 hours ago, Social Media said:

are restoring neighbourhood policing, putting thousands of dedicated officers and community support officers back on our streets, and ensuring every community has a named local officer they can turn to.”

All right!

 

A named local police officer will, at best, be present on the streets for 5 shifts a week - before you take out time for court appearances and so on.

 

Police Community Support Officers are about as much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle!

[soalbundy]

8 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Like, are you suggesting that if the UK clamps down on shoplifters , then there will be a Fourth Reich Nazi regime in the UK ?

  I cannot see that connection myself .

No off course not but the notion of importing Trump's 'philosophy' to the UK would only increase the incompetence of the lot we have now. Trumps ratings in the USA at the moment are -7 and he's only been in office 9 days.

[madone]

3 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Please don't blame the Police.  They have political bosses who drive the priorities of the Police, and successive governments have failed to properly support society (family cohesion and mental health are only 2 examples), leading to people thinking it's okay to become a thief.  Just look across the Pond at how a strong leader can change the priorities in an instant; it's not difficult.

 

It just takes strength, removing funding from places that should not have it, and redirecting that funding to places that do.

 

Britain is a failing state on numerous levels, and I don't see it getting better under Labour, and I have zero confidence in any other party's willingness to make those hard choices.

 

Make UK Great Again! But MUGA doesn't have the same ring as MAGA... 😂  Sounds too much like mugger...

 
MUKKA -- Make UK Kings Again

[connda]

Probably because if a shoplifter is caught they are released with a handslap, but criticize the shoplifter or the UK government and get throw into prison.

[soalbundy]

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   What does Trump have to do with this .

He wasn't even ,mentioned in the article and you bought him into the discussion for some reason 

It was because the first poster mentioned maga, insinuating that we needed someone like Trump in the UK....... nobody needs Trump but here we are looking down the barrel of global trade wars and all it entails.

[Nick Carter icp]

6 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

It was because the first poster mentioned maga, insinuating that we needed someone like Trump in the UK....... nobody needs Trump but here we are looking down the barrel of global trade wars and all it entails.

 

   Don't worry , Trump isn't eligible to become UK PM , so there's no way that it would happen.

    Stop being worried about it 

[soalbundy]

29 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Don't worry , Trump isn't eligible to become UK PM , so there's no way that it would happen.

    Stop being worried about it 

I'm too old to worry, nothing lasts forever. The world is on the cusp of a financial crisis but imagine what it must have been like in Europe during WW2, it makes our problems seem small and yet even this passed.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

I'm too old to worry, nothing lasts forever. The world is on the cusp of a financial crisis but imagine what it must have been like in Europe during WW2, it makes our problems seem small and yet even this passed.

 

   Do you remember what it was like leading up to WW2 ?

The living conditions prior to WW 2 ?

[soalbundy]

12 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Do you remember what it was like leading up to WW2 ?

The living conditions prior to WW 2 ?

Obviously not. The conditions in any era are relative to its own time only. People living in the middle ages would have found their conditions quite livable but would have horrified us. The time before covid was pleasant for most people, therefore the coming financial recession (some say collapse) is going to be a very unpleasant shock which may last for years but nothing lasts forever. Leaders come and go, governments rise and fall but nothing really changes.

[Patong2021]

18 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Theft was uncommon in Germany under the Hitler regime as well.

 

How is it that such mass theft does not occur in  Japan or Singapore? Is their culture superior?

 

[JonnyF]

20 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Make UK Great Again! But MUGA doesn't have the same ring as MAGA... 😂  Sounds too much like mugger

 

Mugger would sum up the UK right now. A crime ridden cesspit. More likely to get jail for posting about a crime than actually doing the crime. 

 

I'd go with MEGA. Make England Great Again.

 

If the heart is healthy the limbs will follow. 

[Yagoda]

Sawed off 16" 12g SXS as soon as they bust the display cases, boom!

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

My mate in Vancouver Canada tells me it's similar there. Bust up a shop, steal whatever you want, walk out the front door, security can't do a damned thing - and neither can the police.

 

Both country's govts ... what's the common thread?

[Watawattana]

22 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

How is it that such mass theft does not occur in  Japan or Singapore? Is their culture superior?

That's a good question.  I know both of these countries reasonably well.  Hong Kong is similar too.  My view is that it's cultural.  Families don't accept the poor behaviour of their teens, so reasonable crime-free behaviour carries forward into their 20s and beyond.  

 

The school system, family and the police all seem to (informally) work together well to quell the desire to steal and commit other crimes.  The police and criminal justice systems have virtually zero tolerance to any crime, so the chances of being caught and charged are high.  There are some downsides to this; teens are almost robotic-like (few critical thinking skills, lack of social awareness outside of their school friends).   Reasons for that are a different topic for a different day.

 

In Hong Kong, the fear of crime index is about the lowest of any city in the world.  There is still some crime that is usually caused by foreigners (I include mainland Chinese in that).  But the police usually catch them.  There are Triads but most of the reported crime is between Triad gangs rather than on citizens. Stealing isn't a normal Triad/Yakuza activity.

 

[Watawattana]

3 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

My mate in Vancouver Canada tells me it's similar there. Bust up a shop, steal whatever you want, walk out the front door, security can't do a damned thing - and neither can the police.

 

Both country's govts ... what's the common thread?

In the UK it was 💩 under the Tories and under previous Governments of all colours.  I don't have confidence in it getting any better under the current Labour Government.

[ElwoodP]

Topic is retail crime in the UK!

Please don't deflect the thread.

[Watawattana]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Don't blame your govts, blame yourselves for allowing and tolerating it.

It's a fair point.  Not sure how to practically do this when all major UK parties are as bad at each other, and when I've no confidence in any of them getting a grip.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

 

How is it that such mass theft does not occur in  Japan or Singapore? Is their culture superior?

 

 

Homogenous societies tend to have a greater feeling of belonging, compassion and responsibility towards society as a whole.

 

Immigrants on the other hand feel no love or responsibility towards the country that helped them. They are there for what they can get. 

 

Second gen immigrants are often worse. They don't feel the occasional gratitude their parents felt towards the country that took them in. 

 

That's why we get the likes of the southport child slayer. British in name but a bitter Rwandan in nature. 

 

The authorities skew the figures by classifying second gen as "British" or "Swedish" or whatever to mask the figures. Their crimes go into the native category. 

 

Paper citizens. 

 

The leftists claim they are British or Swedish or whatever because they have a passport but their values are the opposite of the country that helped them. 

 

The solution is to halt immigration and deport every illegal immigrant immediately. 

 

But only Trump is strong enough. Other western leaders are soft as - a word that rhymes with white.

 

[JonnyF]

11 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

It's a fair point.  Not sure how to practically do this when all major UK parties are as bad at each other, and when I've no confidence in any of them getting a grip.

 

Try Reform.

 

Even if they did 50% of what they are promising it would be a massive improvement. 

[Yellowtail]

If you can watch people steal and get away with it, at some point you feel like a sucker paying.