16% rise in shoplifting in Bournemouth
Addicts and organised crime groups looking to re-sell items are said to be behind a rise in shoplifting offences across the UK last year
Last updated 5th Jan 2024
Dorset Police has seen a rise in shoplifting offences but say they're committed to catching repeat offenders.
According to the force, there has been a 16% rise in shoplifting offences in Bournemouth over the last 12 months.
Chief Superintendent Heather Dixey said: “We're working closely with businesses to understand what exactly that rise is whether there are persistent offenders that we need to focus on or perhaps hotspot areas.
“We know there is still underreporting, that’s why we’re encouraging our businesses to report to us.”
It is believed that meat, dairy and butter are frequently taken in shops across the UK because of rising prices and high resale values.
But the policing minister, Chris Philp, says the cost-of-living crisis is "no excuse" for the surge in shoplifting.
He added: “We've got a very generous benefits system of spending, and the national minimum wage has just gone up, there’s no excuse or crime of any nature including shoplifting.”
A survey by the British Retail Consortium found shoplifting is estimated to have cost businesses up and down the country £1.76 billion in the last year.
Dorset Police launched Operation Shopkeeper late last year in response to the epidemic.
“Between November and December, we detected 85 offences for which 12 individuals were responsible for, we caught them and now they are going through the court process,” CSI Dixey told us.
According to the policing minister, gangs, criminal re-selling and drugs are largely to blame for the spike in thefts from shelves.
This trend was also reflected locally as CSI Dixey said: “We have organised crime groups doing it purely for money making exercises.
We also see shoplifters who are addicted to drugs or alcohol and do it as a means to support their lifestyle but there are likely people who do it because of austerity.”