In 2023, shoplifting incidents surged in the UK, with pivotal observations from a Tesco Express manager highlighting a stark increase in brazen thefts. The British Retail Consortium reported a 25% rise in retail theft compared to the previous year, leading to over 20 million cases, the highest since records began. Retail workers face increasing violence and abuse, with over 2,000 incidents daily. Stories from employees reveal the alarming tactics of thieves, raising concerns about safety in stores. Managers express frustration over insufficient support from corporate for addressing stock loss and ensuring employee safety.
Soaring UK crime costing up to 250bn a year, says thinktank Her observations are backed up by the British Retail Consortium's crime survey, which found retail theft increased 25% in 2023-24 on the year before to more than 20m incidents the highest since records began in 2003.
It's very brazen, said Katherine, 26, adding that last year a group of teenagers targeted a display solely for hay fever tablets, saying the store calculated the thieves took hundreds of pounds' worth.
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