Shoplifting in Scotland has risen by more than 8% over the last five years, according to the Scottish Government’s ‘Recorded Crime in Scotland 2016-17’ report.
The number of recorded incidents grew from 26,449 to 28,650 over the period. With 28,424 incidents recorded in 2015-16, there has been an increase of 1% over the past year.
David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), said shoplifting was becoming a more serious issue for retailers.
“Far from being a victimless crime, SRC research last year found that the average shop theft now costs £325, often hitting smaller shop owners hardest,” he said. “Shop thefts hamper retailers’ ability to service their customers and means less money is available for improving the business, for example by investing in staff training or store refurbishments.
“It is crucial that government treats this issue with the utmost importance and ensures the right resources are in place and that perpetrators are dealt with firmly.”
