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Crimewave hits high street as recession bites
Ellen Widdup10.11.08
RETAILERS are suffering a shoplifting crimewave as the economic downturn continues to bite, according to new figures on supermarket theft.
Supermarket Tesco caught more than 43,000 thieves in the first half of this year - an increase of 36 per cent on the same period in 2007.
Essential items were the most common target, the figures revealed, suggesting that shoplifters were motivated by need rather than greed.
Iceland and Marks and Spencer have revealed criminal activity is also on the rise in their stores.
Stephen Robertson, director general of the British Retail Consortium, said the crimewave would escalate further as the economy contracted, a trend borne out in the previous recession.
"Retailers are preparing for an upsurge in offences and are extending crime prevention methods," he said.
Catherine Bowen, the head of crime policy at the British Retail Consortium, said retailers had noticed a change in what type of goods were being taken.
"The trend in the past has been for people to steal alcohol and things like that," she said. "Whereas we might see an increase in other items being stolen now such as babyfood."
Reader views (9)
And i wonder who filled them with morally bankrupt ideas Steve?Could it be Mr Archer,or Mr Osborne,or maybe even blue peter phone in lines,or maybe even Mr Blair who told bare faced lies to get his own way then walked away with out any punishment to earn millions from the lecture circuit??
- Kev, London
Shoplifting is a massive problem, largely because the penalties for getting caught are derisory.
Don't be so hard on shop staff; in my experience they do regularly apprehend shoplifters and hold them until Police arrive. It is a matter of common sense and objective assessment when deciding whether or not to "have a go".
- Belfast Peeler, NI
My partner works for a well known supermarket chain and has to deal with these cermin on a daily basis. What you have failed to mention is the fact that the large majority of shoplifters are not English.
- Jimbob, Kensington
Quite often I have reported shoplifters to security. I also follow the person around as well just to unerve them. Most common shop that people thieve in, is Primark, due to the lack of security.
- Triffidqueen, Desk in London
Bob of Cheam: nobody would expect an untrained member of staff to tackle a shoplifter but did you even phone the police to report it? My daughter is a security officer for a large retailer. We were shopping together recently and both of us witnessed a "known" shoplifter (known to my daughter) stealing a quilt set and putting it in her bag. My daughter (who was off duty and didn't work for the said store) reported what was happening to the store staff, and advised them not to tackle the shoplifter, but to call the police. They wouldn't even do this much but really, it's the least staff could do.
- Yvonne, Doncaster, UK
It won't stop at shoplifting either.There will be some nasty muggings to boot I fear.
- Steve, London
I know things are harder for some than others, but maybe it will make this generation realise just what their parents went through to make ends meet,without resorting to stealing.
- Suzie, cheshire
I popped into my local Sainsburys Metro the other week and witnessed someone filling a carrier bag with all of the contents of the meat shelf, which he then handed to a lady standing beside him, who promptly walked out of the shop. The problem was that the store in question only has about 4 staff, none of whom are security and I certainly wasn't about to wade in against a guy twice my size.
- Bob, Cheam
I'm hard up so it's ok the thieve - what a morally bankrupt generation we have!
- Steve, Hereford
