Armed shoplifting in London was 91 per cent higher last year compared with the period just before Sadiq Khan took office. In 2015, the last full year before Mr Khan took over, there were 456 recorded instances of shoplifting involving weapons or tools.
Shoplifting overall in London saw a 34% increase in 2023 compared to 2015, with 47,759 offences in 2015 escalating to 57,414 offences in 2023. The spike in shoplifting is attributed to the rising living costs and the cost of living crisis.
Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Rob Blackie highlighted the concerning trend of armed shoplifting and the impact on retail staff and businesses. Police response to shoplifting incidents has been inadequate, contributing to the perception that such crimes are overlooked.
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