Record rise in shoplifting is down to ‘gangs stealing to order’

Organised criminal gangs are the reason behind the recent rise in shoplifting, abuse and violence against shop workers rather cost of living crisis, one of the UK’s largest grocery chains has said.

Paul Gerrard, the public affairs director at the Co-op, on Tuesday (3) told the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee into shoplifting that a 44 per cent rise in retail crime it experienced last year was mostly down to gangs stealing to order at scale – clearing shelves in some cases.

“There have always been people who steal to make ends meet … and you could argue that happens more in a cost of living crisis,” he said. “But that is not what is driving the 44 per cent increase.