Retail staff facing a devastating High Street crime wave with 670 shoplifting offences unsolved daily

Disturbing Statistics

A recent analysis of Home Office data has revealed that retail staff are grappling with a significant increase in unsolved shoplifting offences. Shockingly, 670 cases go unresolved every day, totaling to 245,000 theft incidents closed without identifying a suspect in the year leading up to March 2024.

Rising Trends

This alarming figure marks a 38 per cent surge from five years ago when 178,432 cases remained unsolved. More than half of the stolen goods instances were closed due to law enforcement's inability to locate a suspect, showing a steep 49 per cent increase from the past five years.

Challenges Faced

Shop owners like Martin Gaunt from Truro, Cornwall, are taking matters into their own hands, making 50 citizens' arrests in the last two years due to inadequate police support. Despite having CCTV cameras installed, he finds himself confronting criminals and detaining them until authorities arrive.

Call for Action

The Liberal Democrats are urging for a swift return to community policing, with a focus on ensuring the safety of frontline shop assistants facing brazen thieves. Lisa Smart, the party's Home Affairs Spokesperson, emphasized the need for the government to address the escalating shoplifting crisis and provide adequate resources for local law enforcement to safeguard neighborhoods and shop workers.