Retail theft is becoming a bigger problem for independent retailers across the UK, with almost nine in 10 affected businesses saying shoplifting has worsened over the past year.

A new survey from the British Independent Retailers Association found that almost 77 per cent of respondents had experienced theft in the past 12 months, up from 64 per cent in its previous survey.

The findings, which covered more than 25 retail sectors, highlight growing pressure on smaller retailers as shoplifting, staff abuse and the cost of extra security continue to rise.

Among businesses affected by theft, nearly 90 per cent said the problem had become worse compared with the previous year.

Many retailers described shoplifting as an increasingly routine part of trading. One respondent said theft had become “a weekly if not daily occurrence”, while another described it as “constant”.

Several retailers said offenders were becoming more confident, with some claiming thieves would “laugh at staff while running away”. Another respondent said simply: “We are on our own.”

More than three-quarters of respondents said shoplifters had become more brazen, while over 75 per cent said repeat offenders were behind many of the incidents they experienced.

Retailers reported known individuals returning to the same stores, sometimes in groups or using distraction techniques. Some also linked theft to organised crime and drug dependency.

The survey found the impact of retail crime goes beyond lost stock.

More than two-thirds of retailers said verbal abuse of staff had increased over the past year, often when employees challenged suspected shoplifters or dealt with disputes over refunds and prices.

Seven per cent reported physical abuse of staff, with almost half of those businesses saying the problem had worsened.

The financial hit is also mounting. More than one in 10 respondents estimated retail crime, including stolen goods, extra security and staff time, now costs their business more than £10,000 a year.

Many independent retailers have changed how they operate in an attempt to cut losses.

Nearly two-thirds said they had moved products behind counters, installed locked displays or reduced the amount of stock available on shop floors.

More than a third said these measures had damaged sales or the customer experience, while more than 18 per cent had increased staffing levels specifically to deter or deal with retail crime.

The survey also suggests many retailers lack confidence that reporting theft will lead to meaningful action.

More than 45 per cent of businesses that experienced theft said they did not report every incident to police. Among those that did report offences, police attended around two-thirds of cases, but only 35 per cent led to a prosecution.

Cybercrime is also becoming a growing concern for independents, with one in five respondents reporting online crime, including fraudulent transactions and chargeback fraud. This was up from fewer than 15 per cent in Bira’s previous survey.

Bira chief executive Andrew Goodacre said retail crime had become “a daily reality for independent businesses across Britain”.

He said retailers were spending thousands of pounds each year to protect themselves and called for “stronger enforcement, clearer sentencing, and a police presence that matches the problem”.

When asked what would make the biggest difference, 57 per cent of respondents backed tougher sentencing for offenders, 55 per cent wanted faster police responses and 45 per cent called for more police on Britain’s high streets.

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