Retail crime is surging toward its highest-ever levels, with systematic and repeat shoplifting often going unchecked, The Co-operative Group has warned.
According to the retailer, the equivalent of 1,000 crimes have been reported each day across its stores over the past six months, representing a 35% year-on-year jump.
Some 71% of serious retail crime is not dealt with by police though, the Co-op said in a statement, meaning criminals have a “freedom to loot”.
Calling on more to be done to respond to and prevent crime, the Co-op’s warnings were echoed by the Association of Convenience Stores, which represents the likes of BP PLC (LSE:BP.), Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL) and Tesco PLC (LSE:TSCO)-owned One Stop.
“Shop theft is rising because repeat offenders and organised criminals are targeting local shops to steal goods to resell,” the group explained.
“Our members are at the sharp end. [This] harms businesses that provide essential services to communities.”
Some 175,000 incidents in the first six months of the year has left retailers questioning operating in hard-struck areas, the Co-op warned.
“Co-op has invested significantly in keeping colleagues and stores safe, but we need the police to play their part,” the retailer’s managing director Matt Hood added.
Co-op is not the first retailer to report issues too, with companies across the sector having already expressed concern over a rise of crimes in stores.
Waitrose previously explained how staff were now being trained to spot shoplifters amid the crime wave, echoing warnings about repeat offenders.