UK retail system loses 2.75 billion USD due to... petty theft

According to statistics from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), losses to the country's retail sector have risen to a record £2.2 billion (about $2.75 billion) in 2024, while violence and abuse of employees are also on the rise.

UK retailers have invested £1.8bn in additional security cameras, extra security staff, anti-theft devices and body cameras. (Source: Shutterstock)

The number of thefts has reached an all-time high with more than 20 million incidents recorded in the past 12 months, according to an association representing more than 200 major UK companies.

Crime inside stores is spiralling out of control, despite significant investment by many major brands to prevent shoplifting and assaults on staff, according to BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson.

BRC figures for the year ending August 24 show that violence and abuse during this period were more than 2,000 cases per day, up from 1,300 cases the previous year, and three times higher than in 2020 with 455 cases per day.

Meanwhile, losses from shoplifting rose to £2.2bn, up from £1.8bn the previous year, adding to the pressure on rising costs facing retailers.

Ms Dickinson stressed that this was continuing every day, with criminals becoming more daring and aggressive. Many of the incidents involved organised crime, with gangs targeting shops across the country, stealing tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods and moving around.

According to BRC figures, spending on crime prevention in 2024 was also at a record high, with retailers investing £1.8 billion on additional security cameras, additional security staff, anti-theft devices and body cameras, up from £1.2 billion the previous year.

In addition, the UK government is committed to tackling retail shoplifting through tougher measures, such as removing the threshold for theft of property worth £200 or less. A separate offence is being considered for assaulting retail staff in England and Wales.

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