270 Suspects Linked to 28,415 England Shoplifting Offences

Shoplifting is placing sustained pressure on retailers across England, with workers reporting repeated thefts, intimidation and violence, while businesses absorb losses, restrict stock and increase security. BBC analysis found that 270 prolific suspects were linked to 28,415 offences across 28 police force areas between April 2020 and April 2026, alongside organised gangs travelling between towns to target higher-value goods. Regional trends varied: incidents nearly doubled in Merseyside from 2020-21 to 2025-26, rose 14.9% in Cleveland and 8.2% in Gloucestershire, but fell nationally by 5%; North East Lincolnshire’s rate was nearly twice the national average. Police and retailers say underreporting hampers investigations, while responses include CCTV, information-sharing, retailer radio networks, publicizing footage, bans and operations such as North Yorkshire’s Operation Sun. Croydon plans to pilot electronic tagging for prolific shoplifters, though businesses stress that technology must be accompanied by effective enforcement and reporting of every offence. Police say offending can be linked to addiction and personal needs as well as organised crime, and support programmes helping repeat offenders recover suggest treatment can complement policing.