Recession to cause rise in shoplifting

According to a report released today by the British Retail Consortium, the recent drop in shoplifting and other offences recorded at retail could be set to reverse as the effects of the economic slowdown take hold.

The year ending this April saw significant drops in the amount of theft, a trend which the BRC say is a result of the economic stability of the time.

In the BRC report, Director General Stephen Robertson said: “The credit crunch threatens to bring an abrupt end to this trend. Recent reports have focused on a surge in shoplifting and fuel thefts. Retailers are preparing for a rapid rise in offences and are adapting crime prevention methods, for example, placing electronic security tags on expensive cuts of meat.”

Link: The Retail Bulletin