Although shoplifting rates are starting to drop across the West Midlands, incidents of this crime are still at an all-time high when we look at the picture spanning the past 5 years. Many of the drivers behind this increase are economic; with the cost of living crisis coming on the back of the Covid pandemic there are few people who haven’t felt the pinch. 40% of shoplifting incidents were motivated by financial hardship, according to a 2023 survey.
The resale value and ease of theft of items drive many shoplifting incidents – things like batteries (which accounted for 9% of retail thefts) and confectionary are easily concealed in a pocket or dropped into a bag and can be sold on for a reasonable price. Nappies, baby wipes and milk formula might not be the easiest items to slip under a coat, but they are often targeted by organised gangs who know the demand is there for cheap and necessary baby products among hard-up families. An estimated 5% of supermarket thefts involved nappies, and many retailers have taken to security tagging baby formula, or keeping it behind the kiosk.
The most commonly stolen item was alcohol, and this is no surprise. Addictions, as well as economic factors, drive the theft of alcohol and while spirits may be kept behind a counter, or protected with anti-theft tags, wine, beers and ciders are often left unprotected and vulnerable to theft. People of all ages and backgrounds may be tempted to shoplift alcohol; ranging from a group of underage minors, who can’t legally purchase the alcohol pilfering a few bottles, to an adult who wants to relax with a drink but has insufficient funds. Alcohol theft accounted for 22% of retail thefts in 2022.
Cigarettes and tobacco are not easy to shoplift, as they are kept out of the reach of the shopping public. However, thieves resort to intimidation and physical violence to steal these items; they are incredibly easy to sell in pubs and clubs with no questions asked. The rising cost of tobacco products means smokers are unlikely to question the origins of cheap cigarettes, so there is a quick and tidy profit to be made. Theft of cigarettes made up around 15% of retail thefts in 2022, despite the unavailability of the products to the general public – they can’t be picked up and slipped into a pocket.
Theft of grocery shopping from cars has also been a problem, with high-end supermarket shoppers being targeted by thieves who think nothing of breaking a car window to steal your shop. Stealing paid-for items from the consumer is one way that thieves can avoid confrontation in stores, or being recognised on in-store CCTV, so always ensure that you put your shopping in the boot of the car and not on the back seat.
Criminals will also break in to your vehicle to steal other visible purchases, like new electronics, computer games and clothing. Accessories and outfits from designer shops attract the attention of thieves. Even items that are not new can tempt a crook, if they think there’s a sale value attached, so don’t leave your expensive coat, bag, phone, laptop or sunglasses on display in your vehicle.
Armed with the knowledge of what items thieves are looking to take, shop owners can direct resources towards protecting the most popular items, and drivers can be sensible about what they leave visible in their vehicles when parked in public. Always remember that P&R Alarms are your trusted supplier for the hardware you need to stay protected from theft.