Shoplifting is at its highest level for nine years with organised crime gangs targeting expensive items, accor-ding to leading retailers.
This has driven up the cost of the average theft by nearly two-thirds, the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) annual crime report said.
The survey of 30 retailers, who represent 51% of the retail sector by turnover, revealed 631,391 incidents of customer theft in 2012-13, the highest level recorded in the survey for nine years.
Those surveyed also estimate that around a quarter of customer thefts were never detected.
Figures also showed that the average value per theft had increased to £177, a 62% rise on the previous year and again the highest figure for nine years. Department stores and mixed retailers suffered the highest value thefts, at around six times the price of the average supermarket theft.
“Respondents told us that organised crime gangs systematically targeting higher value items is a factor driving up the average cost of customer theft,” said the report. “The items targeted included branded electrical goods, designer clothing, handbags and power tools.
“As well as being prepared to travel further to commit such thefts, evidence indicates that organised groups are also more willing to obtain a wide range of high-value items, rather than focusing on theft of a particular brand or item as previously.”
Director-general of the BRC, Helen Dickinson, added: “Theft from stores pushed the direct cost of retail crime up to £511million last year, 166% higher than five years ago.
“Far from being victimless, we all pay for this increased stealing through higher prices and, increasingly, shop closures and damage to town centres as safety is reduced and communities are blighted.”
Criminal damage was down by 21% but the average cost per incident went from £962 in 2011/12 to £2,062 in 2012/13. Robbery was up by 48% and eight in 10 respondents reported a rise in online fraud.
“Combined with the increase in organised theft, this means that retailers are facing an increasingly sophisticated criminal,” added Ms Dickinson.