Shoplifting in Rutland and Leicestershire increases by 44% in a year
The Police and Crime Commissioner says shoplifting has been a growing problem in the area
Last updated 19th Dec 2024
The Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner says shoplifting has been the fastest growing problem in the area this year.
Data shows these incidents have increased by 44% in the 12 months to June.
Shoplifting increased by 44% in the 12 months to June
There were 7145 incidents of shoplifting in the area from June 2023 to 2024.
For the same time in the previous year, there were only 4948 cases.
Rupert Matthews, Leicestershire and Rutland's Police and Crime Commissioner, said:
There's a lot of work that's going in to tackling this
"You have an image in your mind about shoplifting being teenagers stealing a chocolate bar or somebody stealing a cardigan."
"But, what's really driving a big increase in this is organised gangs."
"What the gangs will do is target a shop, go in and get the internal layout and then someone will go in and distract the staff whilst others are going in and stealing large quantities of high value items."
"Sometimes thousands of pounds worth of stock will disappear within minutes."
"There's a lot of work that's going in to tackling this."
Thousands of pounds worth of stock will disappear within minutes
Leicestershire had the third highest number of shoplifting incidents in the East Midlands between June 2023 and June 2024.
Previously, the county was the forth highest for number of cases.
Nottinghamshire was top with 15085 cases and Derbyshire was second with 7183.