In recent years, retail crime has surged across the UK, leaving shop owners and staff grappling with an escalating threat to their safety and livelihoods. Amit Puntambekar, the owner of Ash’s Shop in Fenstanton, Peterborough, found himself at the forefront of this growing issue when he confronted a shoplifter in a dramatic encounter.
What began as a routine response to theft quickly escalated into physical violence when one of three women Amit confronted for stealing punched him in the face. Witnessing the attack, Amit’s mother tried to intervene. Fearing for her safety, Amit was forced to pin the woman against the wall for 20 minutes until the police arrived.
Amit’s experience is just one of the many that go on to prove that retail crime is spiralling out of control, with shoplifters increasingly engaging in brazen and violent acts of theft, emboldened by the lack of consequences. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), representing over 200 major retailers, reported that incidents of customer theft surged by 3.7 million to a total of 20.4 million cases in the 12 months leading to September of last year. This wave of theft resulted in a £2bn loss for retailers.
The BRC's annual crime survey also revealed a concerning 50% rise in violence and abuse against shopworkers, with more than 2,000 such incidents occurring daily on average. The survey, based on a sample of retailers employing over 1.1 million people and generating a market turnover exceeding £194bn, highlights the severity of the problem.
Additionally, separate figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that shoplifting offences reported by police in England and Wales climbed by 23% to over 492,000 cases, marking the highest number since current recording practices began in 2003.
Retailers struggling as criminals walk free
South Asian retailers in the UK make up a significant portion of the retail landscape, with a concentrated presence in areas like London, where Asian-owned businesses play a key role in driving the economy. Unfortunately, these businesses are also affected by the growing issue of retail crime.
According to a report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), verbal and physical attacks, violent threats, and sexual and racial abuse in shops soared to more than 2,000 incidents a day in the year leading up to last August. This marks an increase from 1,300 the previous year and more than triple the number of incidents reported in 2020. Yet, despite the rise in crime, little is being done to address this escalating issue.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), attributes this surge to the involvement of organised crime, which has recognised retail theft as a low-risk, high-reward crime. “There’s no need to break into premises or escape with stolen goods," he explains. "This makes it an easy crime to commit, and the reality is that organised crime is significantly driving the increase in incidents. Additionally, we are now facing the consequences of years of turning a blind eye to the problem.”
Amit is a vocal advocate for raising awareness about the growing threat of shoplifting. On his shop’s Facebook page, you’ll find numerous posts warning other retailers about serial shoplifters, with clear photographs and names provided. Yet, despite having all this information, criminals continue to walk free. Amit explains that arresting shoplifters is far from straightforward. “Many of the major shoplifters are known to the police,” he says, “but they struggle to prosecute them unless a certain amount of theft has occurred over time. The police need a threshold of offenses before they can arrest the individual, if they are able to find them.”
Even after an arrest is made, there are times when the case is presented to court, only for it to be rejected. “It’s disheartening,” Amit continues. “There’s one individual, well-known by local authorities, who shoplifts everywhere. We even worked with Tesco’s security to get him arrested. He spent eight weeks in jail before being released, and then went out and stole again. This person is also violent and known to carry knives. The police often feel let down by the court system. They work hard on some cases, but the courts often fail to take it seriously, and this has a huge impact on businesses and their staff.”
Amit's shop, like many other retailers, has suffered financially due to this rising crime wave. In January alone, he lost around £250 a week, which amounts to approximately £200,000 to £225,000 in lost turnover over the course of a year. This is a substantial amount, and for small independent retailers, it can make a significant difference.
As the scale of retail crime continues to rise, it’s clear that more needs to be done to address the root causes and provide retailers with the support they need to protect their businesses and livelihoods.
Urgent need for more effective law enforcement
Amit, like many other business owners across the UK, has invested in enhanced security systems to safeguard his shop and ensure his personal safety. He has implemented artificial intelligence that monitors cameras in real-time, allowing him to detect suspicious behaviour, such as customers attempting to conceal items in their bags or coats.
Although the system doesn’t immediately prevent theft, it enables Amit to review footage and identify those stealing. “In the coming months, we plan to implement facial recognition technology,” Amit explains. “This will help track repeat offenders, allowing us to take what I call 'soft measures' if they return. Staff can casually engage with them, asking things like, 'How’s your day going?' This approach subtly creates awareness and deters them from stealing without direct confrontation.”
While shopkeepers like Amit are taking steps to secure their businesses, the alarming statistics surrounding retail crime remain concerning. In response to the issue, the police stated that they have made progress in 2024. "Over the past year, we have made significant strides in our fight against retail crime, strengthening relationships with retailers and greatly improving information sharing. This has led to a number of high-harm offenders being brought to justice," said Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss, the National Police Chiefs' Council's lead for retail crime.
However, Amit believes much more needs to be done. He emphasises that the £200 threshold for police call-outs related to shop theft must be eliminated to ensure all thefts are addressed, no matter the value. Moreover, both the police and the courts need to take retail crime more seriously. "We're seeing a shift from petty theft to more serious violence," Amit says. "What used to be manageable for businesses has now escalated into situations where criminals feel emboldened to attack staff, knowing the law is lenient. Retailers are increasingly facing violent confrontations, and it's only a matter of time before this escalates into weaponised violence, with attackers using knives or other weapons."
Amit stresses that shoplifting is not a harmless or victimless crime. "It has real consequences for businesses, employees, and communities. The courts must recognise this and address the issue at its core to prevent further escalation and protect frontline workers."
Andrew Goodacre echoed Amit’s concerns. “Independent retailers consistently tell me they want more police presence on the streets. There’s a commitment from the government to increase the number of officers for community policing, and we urge them to implement this as soon as possible,” Goodacre said. “Furthermore, business and retail crime must be prioritised by Police and Crime Commissioners and chief inspectors across the UK. The response to these crimes must be proportional and act as a deterrent. If individuals are caught, we must ensure effective punishment, preventing them from reoffending.”
