Shoplifting is one of the issues that is increasing in the UK and causing the loss of millions every year. In the recent report shared by the British Retail Consortium, they mentioned that shoplifting (customer theft) has caused a loss of £2.2 billion in 2023/24 in the United Kingdom.
Moreover, they have said that retail crime is at the top in the history of the UK and the retail owners haven’t seen such a rise in the entire experience of retail business.
Key Takeaways
- Shoplifting at Record Highs – UK retailers lost £2.2 billion in 2023/24 due to theft.
- Sharp Crime Increase – Shoplifting offences surged 37% in 2023, with 430,104 reported cases.
- Worst-Hit Cities – Cardiff, Swansea, Nottingham, Brighton, and Southampton among the most affected.
- Security Guards – Visible deterrent at store entrances.
- CCTV Surveillance – Monitors and records suspicious activities.
- Retail Store Detectives – Trained experts to identify shoplifters.
- Retail Impact – Rising theft leads to higher security costs and financial strain on businesses.
- Key Takeaways
- Is Shoplifting in the UK at an All-Time High?
- Overall Shoplifting Crimes in the UK
- Top 10 Worst Areas for Shoplifting Crimes in the UK
- Ways to Control the Shoplifting Offences
- How Have Guard Mark Security Sourced This Data?
- Best Security Guarding Services in the UK to Prevent Shoplifting
- Conclusion
Is Shoplifting in the UK at an All-Time High?
According to the British Retail Consortium, shoplifting in the UK is at an all-time high with almost 20 million offences and incidents costing the retail owners £2.2 billion in 2023/24. When looking at the statistics for 2022/23, the shoplifting cost was lower, with a loss of £1.8 billion.
Moreover, when talking about the crime rates in the retail sector, all kinds of crimes, including theft and violent crimes, are at an all-time high, and the retail sector is being abused badly in the UK.
The British Retail Consortium has published a complete, detailed report in PDF form that you can visit and get more information related to retail crimes, including shoplifting.
Overall Shoplifting Crimes in the UK
When going deep and looking at the official statistics shared by the Office for National Statistics, we have seen that the shoplifting incidents in 2023 increased by a huge margin when compared with incidents that happened in 2022.
For instance, the shoplifting crime rate increased by 37% in 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics, and the total number of shoplifting offences was 430,104 offences. This feels like a huge hike because, according to the statistics we have for 2022, the total number of recorded shoplifting offences was 315,040.
The UK police started recording shoplifting offences since the year ending March 2003. Since then, 2023 has been the year with the highest number of shoplifting offences and incidents.
Top 10 Worst Areas for Shoplifting Crimes in the UK
Here is the list of top 10 worst areas for shoplifting crime in the UK:
1- Cardiff
17.99 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
Cardiff is one of the major areas in the UK and is famous for its museums, architecture, and historical sites. Cardiff also has some of the most famous markets in the area.
Due to their fame, there is always a crowd there, which provides a clear opportunity for the shoplifters to shoplift and disappear in the crowd. When looking at the shoplifting crime rate in Cardiff, it’s 17.99 crimes per 1,000 people, making it the worst area for shoplifting crime in the UK.
Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Cardiff is 5,979 offences and incidents in 2024.
2- Swansea
15.53 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
Swansea is the 2nd largest city in Wales and is mostly famous for its coastal areas and amazing natural beauty. It is also the birthplace of the world-famous poet “Dylan Thomas”.
Swansea is 2nd on our list when discussing the worst areas for shoplifting in the UK and its overall shoplifting crime rate is 15.53 crimes per 1,000 people. Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Swansea is 2,450 offences and incidents in 2024.
3- Nottingham
15.39 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
We all have grown up listening to the storeys of Robin Hood, and you will be surprised to read that Nottingham is synonymous with Robin Hood. Moreover, the area is famous for its historical sites and large castles.
The shoplifting crime in Nottingham is very similar to that in Swansea. When looking at the shoplifting crime rate in the area, it’s 15.39 crimes per 1,000 people, making it the 3rd worst area for shoplifting offences in the UK. Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Nottingham is 5,497 offences and incidents in 2024.
4- Brighton and Hove
15.37 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
Brighton and Hove are one of the areas that attract a huge number of tourists every year due to their seaside views and beautiful scenery. These areas are famous for their diverse communities and artistic nature.
Due to the large number of tourists and a diverse community, shoplifting offences here are increasing. When looking at the statistics, the overall shoplifting crime rate here is 15.37 crimes per 1,000 people. Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Brighton and Hove is 4,069 offences and incidents in 2024.
5- Southampton
14.79 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
If you are doing research on the crime rates, you might see Southampton in every other list of crimes. Southampton is famous for its nightlife, museums, and maritime history.
When discussing the shoplifting statistics here, the overall shoplifting crime rate in Southampton is 14.79 crimes per 1,000 people, making it the 5th worst area for shoplifting offences in the UK. Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Southampton is 3,508 offences and incidents in 2024.
6- Reading
14.45 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
Reading is one of the areas in the UK that is well known for its history, art, and attractions. It is also known for its industrial revolution and is renowned for beer, biscuits, and bulbs.
Despite having some of the most famous and beautiful attractions in the UK, Reading’s shoplifting crime rate is one of the worst. The overall shoplifting crime rate here is 14.45 crimes per 1,000 people. Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Reading is 2,384 offences and incidents in 2024.
7- Leeds
14.22 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
Leeds is also like Southampton, very famous and important, but also in the headlines for crimes and illegal incidents. Leeds is mostly famous for its historical sites and Leeds Bradford Airport.
Due to having one of the busiest airports in the UK, Leeds’ shoplifting crime rate is increasing by a huge margin. When looking at the statistics, the overall shoplifting crime rate in Leeds is 14.22 crimes per 1,000 people. Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Leeds is 9,202 offences and incidents in 2024.
8- Middlesbrough
14.18 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
The shoplifting crime rate in Middlesbrough and Leeds is slightly different from each other. Middlesbrough is well known for its industrial history and diversified culture.
As we discuss the shoplifting crime rate in Middlesbrough, it has 14.18 crimes per 1,000 people, making it one of the worst areas for shoplifting crimes in the UK. Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Middlesbrough is 2,018 offences and incidents in 2024.
9- Newcastle upon Tyne
14.15 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
Newcastle upon Tyne has one of the best nightlife in the whole of the UK and is mostly famous for its industrial heritage, dialect, and architecture.
When looking at the statistics from the most recent and fresh batch of data, Newcastle upon Tyne has an overall shoplifting crime rate of 14.15 crimes per 1,000 people. Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Newcastle upon Tyne is 4,349 offences and incidents in 2024.
10- Bristol
14.13 Shoplifting Crimes Per 1,000 People
Bristol has one of the most renowned historical attractions in the UK and is mostly known for its engineering, attractions, history, and culture.
When discussing the shoplifting statistics in Bristol, the overall shoplifting crime rate here is 14.13 crimes per 1,000 people. Moreover, the number of recorded shoplifting offences in Bristol is 6,424 offences and incidents in 2024.
Ways to Control the Shoplifting Offences
Undoubtedly, shoplifting is one of the serious issues in the UK and is increasing with every passing year. Retail owners lose billions every year due to shoplifting crimes and offences.
So, if you are a retail store owner, you might be looking for ways and security measures to protect your valuable assets. Here are some of the proven ways to protect your assets from shoplifting.
Security Guards
Hiring and positioning the security guards at the entrance of your retail store is one of the proven ways to reduce shoplifting offences. Security guards act as a strong deterrent and don’t let troublemakers access your assets without any issue.
Moreover, shoplifters also don’t do theft from the stores with the security guards due to the threat of being caught and detained. So, if you are a retail store owner, hiring security guards is one of the best investments you can make to secure and protect your assets.
Installing CCTV Cameras
If a retail store is big enough to be taken care of by a security guard or two, then CCTV cameras are the most suitable option for you. You can install CCTV cameras all over the store and hire a CCTV monitoring officer to monitor all the cameras and keep a close eye on everyone entering or exiting the premises.
You can also go with the combination of a security guard and a CCTV monitoring officer. This way, the CCTV monitoring officer will keep a close eye on everyone and let the security guard know if they identify any potential threat for a quick and prompt response.
Retail Store Detectives
Hiring retail store detectives is one of the smartest moves you can make. Retail store detectives are specially trained to identify unusual behaviour among the customers and the retail store staff.
These detectives don’t wear any kind of uniform and act like the customers. They keep moving in the store and keep a close eye on everyone. Moreover, they are trained to identify potential threats and easily control them before they can steal or perform theft in the store.
How Have Guard Mark Security Sourced This Data?
At Guard Mark Security, our number one priority is to provide you with the most realistic, authentic, and legitimate data published on trusted sources. To write this article, we have sourced the data and statistics from different websites and platforms, including:
You can visit all these websites to ensure all the data and statistics we have mentioned in the article are correct and legitimate.
Best Security Guarding Services in the UK to Prevent Shoplifting
If you are a retail store owner, looking for the best security guarding services to prevent theft from your store in the UK, you are at the right place. At Guard Mark Security, we have been offering security guarding services in the UK for years and have helped many businesses and store protect their premises and assets.
No matter if you are looking for security guarding services, CCTV monitoring services, retail store detective services, or any other related to the security industry, we are able to cater to all your needs and requirements.
So, if you have any questions related to our services, contact us right now. Our highly trained customer support team is here all the team to assist you in the best manner.
Conclusion
Shoplifting in the UK is a major crime causing billions in losses, and in 2023/24, retail stores have faced an all-time high crime rate related to theft and shoplifting.
Some of the worst-affected areas, including Cardiff, Swansea, and Nottingham, highlight the urgent need for enhanced security measures in retail stores to minimise losses.
With retail crime at an all-time high, store owners should prioritise security by hiring retail security guards, employing retail store detectives, installing CCTV cameras, and implementing other protective measures.
If you are a concerned retail store owner looking for affordable professional security services, Guard Mark Security is here to help. Contact us now, share your requirements and we will provide you with the most suitable and compatible security package for your retail store.
