Retail theft is becoming a bigger problem for independent retailers across the UK, with almost nine in 10 businesses affected by shoplifting saying the situation has worsened over the past year, according to a new survey by the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).
The findings highlight growing concerns about retail crime, staff safety and the financial burden on smaller businesses as shoplifting continues to rise.
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The survey, which covered more than 25 retail sectors, found that almost 77% of respondents experienced theft during the past 12 months, up from 64% in Bira’s previous survey.
Among those affected, nearly 90% said theft had become worse compared with the previous year.
Theft becomes more frequent
Many retailers described shoplifting as an increasingly common part of running a business.
One respondent said theft had become “a weekly if not daily occurrence”, while another described it simply as “constant”. Several retailers reported that offenders appeared increasingly confident, with some saying thieves would “laugh at staff while running away”. Another respondent summed up the situation by saying: “We are on our own.”
More than three-quarters of respondents believed shoplifters had become more brazen, while over 75% said repeat offenders were responsible for many of the incidents they experienced.
Retailers reported that known individuals frequently returned to the same stores, sometimes working in groups or using distraction techniques. Some respondents also linked theft to organised crime and drug dependency.
The findings reflect wider concerns across the UK retail sector. Recent industry data has also highlighted high levels of shoplifting and increasing involvement by organised criminal groups, prompting calls for stronger enforcement and greater police support.
Staff and businesses under pressure
The survey found that retail crime is affecting more than lost stock.
More than two-thirds of retailers said verbal abuse of staff had increased during the past year, often when employees challenged suspected shoplifters or dealt with disputes over refunds and prices.
Seven per cent reported physical abuse of staff, and almost half of those businesses said the problem had become worse.
The financial impact is also growing. More than one in 10 respondents estimated that retail crime, including stolen goods, additional security measures and staff time, now costs their business more than £10,000 a year.
Many retailers have changed the way they operate to reduce losses. Nearly two-thirds said they had moved products behind counters, installed locked displays or reduced the amount of stock on shop floors.
More than a third said these changes had harmed sales or the customer experience, while over 18% had increased staffing levels specifically to deter or deal with retail crime.
Calls for stronger action
The survey suggests many retailers have little confidence that reporting theft will lead to action.
More than 45% of businesses that experienced theft said they did not report every incident to the police. Among those that did report offences, police attended about two-thirds of cases, but only 35% resulted in a prosecution.
Cybercrime is also becoming a growing concern. One in five respondents reported experiencing online crime, including fraudulent transactions and chargeback fraud, up from fewer than 15% in the association’s previous survey.
Commenting on the findings, Bira Chief Executive Andrew Goodacre said retail crime had become “a daily reality for independent businesses across Britain”.
He added that retailers were spending thousands of pounds each year to protect themselves and called for “stronger enforcement, clearer sentencing, and a police presence that matches the problem”.
When asked what would make the biggest difference, 57% of respondents supported tougher sentencing for offenders, 55% wanted faster police responses and 45% called for a greater police presence on Britain’s high streets.
