Shoplifting in Scotland has risen by 25% compared to the previous year, official statistics have revealed.
The government’s Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending September 2024 publication has revealed that shoplifting incidents increased from 33,789 to 42,271 in one year, and since 2020 the incidents of the crime have soared by 70% (from 24,861 to 42,271 crimes).
On the statistics, Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: “These shocking figures are a consequence of the SNP’s weak justice agenda and sustained cuts to policing. It is particularly alarming to see a rise in the number of rapes and sexual assault cases, which have gone up considerably in the space of a year.
“Those working in retail will not be surprised to see shoplifting crimes soaring, with those responsible knowing they will often get little more than a slap on the wrist.”
Scottish retailers taking steps to protect their businesses from crime
Sid Ali, of Morrisons Daily, Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, said he is “not surprised” by the statistics.
“People now think it’s okay. We’ve started to think about how to tackle it lately and have come up with a few solutions. First of all, we’re communicating with local stores – if they have a shoplifter in, they’ll let us know whether that person is headed towards us.”
Ali added that when a shoplifter is in store, staff tell all inside that the shop is shutting for five minutes.
“The shoplifter usually reacts calmly – there’s no aggression to it. Sometimes they’ll protest and say they’re not shoplifting, but we’ll have to tell them it’s not about that to avoid the conflict. It means they leave without being able to take anything. We may lose a few sales, but it prevents high-value stuff being stolen. It’s not a long-term solution, but could act as a deterrent.”
Ali added he has plans to set up a WhatsApp group with local shops to receive warnings.
ACS partners with Sky to spotlight shoplifting
‘Record spending’ on crime prevention by retailers
David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), said it is “appalling” that thefts from shops has soared by a quarter.
“Despite record spending by retailers on crime prevention the rate of thefts continues to rise,” he continued. “In fact, these figures won’t even capture the full picture as many thefts aren’t reported by retailers who are sceptical that action will be taken.
“With a swathe of new mandated rules in the pipeline or under consideration, and which may lead to more flashpoints in store, the SRC wants tackling crime against retailers to be made a greater priority by the authorities, including in the Scottish government’s Strategic Police Priorities, as well as greater funding for the police to combat prolific offenders and organised criminal gangs targeting stores.”
SGF chief executive Pete Cheema said: “We encourage our members to report every crime, but the truth is that many retailers simply don’t see any benefit. Shoplifting is a daily event in most stores and most know that the police simply don’t have enough resources to cope.”
Cheema added that the “official figures speak for themselves” and shop theft is “set to double over a five-year period”.
The news comes as Scottish MSPs pass new legislation reducing the automatic release point for short-term prisoners.
This means that inmates serving less than four years for certain crimes, including shoplifting, will now be set free after serving 40% of their sentence as opposed to the previous 50%.
Labour MSP Pauline McNeill said the passing of the bill was a “sad day for criminal justice”.
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