Shoplifting epidemic revealed to be costing London £9.2million a month
Shoplifting is estimated to cost London £9.2 million every month, the Evening Standard can reveal — with new figures showing a 48 per cent spike in offences.
Brazen thieves have burst in to stores with wheelie bins, suitcases and holdalls to clear shelves of items. Staff who try to intervene are subjected to racist and sexist slurs, threats and violence.
One Co-op store in inner London was looted three times in one day by organised gangs. Matt Hood, its food managing director, described the crime wave as “out of control”.
are said to be so demoralised by perceived inaction that they, 55,860 shoplifting offences were recorded across London in the past year, an increase of 48.3 per cent on the previous 12 months — and nearly double the 25 per cent rise nationally. But only 3,462 of the London crimes were solved, just six per cent.
