Middle-class shoplifters are partially to blame as shops across the UK battle an increase in retail crime during the cost-of-living crisis.
Though acknowledging organised and gang-related stealing played a large part, Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LSE:MKS) chairman Archie Norman argued that individuals taking chances at self-checkout counters and other opportunists are also to blame.
“Some of it is by gangs or people stealing to fuel a drugs habit,” he said on an LBC podcast on Tuesday. “No doubt that's probably increased a bit, it's always been there.
“Then you get the sort of middle class,” he continued.
“With the reduction of service you get in a lot of shops, a lot of people go in and think, 'well this didn't scan or it's very difficult to scan these things through and I shop here all the time, it's not my fault, I'm owed it’.”
Shops have faced an uptick in crime over the years since the pandemic, with retailers like John Lewis claiming annual losses from theft have jumped by £12 million in a year.
Data from the Co-op earlier this month showed cases of shoplifting, abuse, violence and anti-social behaviour had hit 300,000 so far this year, marking a 43% increase on 2022.
And it's not just on this side of the Atlantic, with US-based chains including Walmart, Target, Dick's Sporting Goods and Dollar Tree all recently citing rising levels of “shrink”, being inventory lost due to damage or theft.
Supermarkets in the UK have taken to training staff to spot specific types of retail crime, with calls repeatedly being made for police to handle cases more seriously.
However, despite specific organisations being created to tackle issues, under existing rules those who steal less than £200 worth of goods do not need to appear in court.
“It’s too easy to say it’s a cost-of-living problem,” Norman added, pointing the finger at gangs but also at regular shoppers taking advantage of self-checkout systems.