Shoplifting incidents have risen by four per cent over the last year across the UK as crime continues to “financially burden retailers”.
According to new data from online marketplace Onbuy, between April 2017 and March 2018 there were 378,725 shoplifting incidents across the UK, equating to just over 1000 a day and costing retailers an estimated £500 million.
The study collated data from 42 police forces across England and Wales and found that the Metropolitan Police recorded 46,840 incidences over the year, an average of 128 per day.
Following London, the West Midlands Police recorded the second highest number of incidences at 19,851.
Conversely, Dyfed-Powys Police saw the lowest recorded number of incidences at 1861, but recorded the highest year-on-year increase of 21 per cent.
Northampton Police recorded the highest level of decline at 14 per cent.
“The findings from this research are intriguing. With the overall number of shoplifting incidents increasing from the previous year, it’s a crime which is financially burdening retailers,” Onbuy chief executive Cas Paton said.
“It’s unfortunate because many owners spend a lot of time, money and energy ensuring all aspects of their operations are running effectively and efficiently.
“Whilst shoplifting may seem difficult to prevent, there are certain cost-effective precautions retailers can take to deter shoplifters from targeting them.
“Precautions such as training employees to identify the behaviours associated with shoplifters and appropriate signage to warn potential offenders about the seriousness of the matter.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
