Shoplifting incidents 'widely under-reported' in Wiltshire
Police have dealt with 4,000 cases in the county in the last 12 months
Wiltshire Police say they'll continue to work to prevent and investigate shoplifting incidents across the county.
It comes as the force reveals they've dealt with just over 4,000 cases in the year to August 2023.
But they are concerned that retailers aren't reporting many thefts, and have been spending this week visiting businesses, urging them to tell officers about incidents on their premises.
Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police Catherine Roper, said:
“In the past 12 months (Sept 22- Aug 23) we have had 4050 reported incidents of shoplifting but we know this is just a fraction of all crimes. Under reporting is widely acknowledged by the retail sector to be between 16% and 38% with the large supermarkets facing the brunt of the thefts.
“We constantly work with our retailers and concentrate on the issues important to them and this week we are working to highlight their concerns and introduce Business Watch to the wider business communities. The resources deployed may not only be police but with partner agencies. Through greater information sharing there is the opportunity to further disrupt and arrest prolific offenders, prevent violence and antisocial behaviour and provide reassurance to the public and businesses.”
Retailers across Wiltshire have been encouraged to join a force-wide Business Watch initiative this week, with over 100 businesses signing up in just one day.
The public are being asked to be alert and help report shoplifting offences to shop staff or directly to Wiltshire Police.
Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, said:
“It is vitally important that Wiltshire Police deliver a quality police service and respond to all those who are a victim of crime and need help.
“With more than 4,000 shoplifting offences reported in the last year, the need for Wiltshire Police to be robust and proactive when dealing with this sort of crime - using a more strategic, and embedded, approach, as part the Force’s overall policing response - has never been more evident.
“Just because business crime appears to be victimless does not make it any less of a crime. After recently hearing from the retail sector, from local shopkeepers to bigger corporate organisations, it is clear to me that they do have a right to feel frustrated – especially when they do not receive an expected level of response when they report crimes.
“As ever, I will continue to engage with local businesses, listen to their concerns and scrutinise the police response on their behalf, alongside encouraging other partners, such as local authorities, to look more closely at how we can all work together more effectively to tackle this growing problem.”