Shoppers issued £100 warning over extra costs as expert says: 'We end up paying that'

A customer uses a blue plastic shopping basket, branded with the Aldi name, as they shop inside an Aldi supermarket store
-Credit: (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)


A rise in organised shoplifting gangs is costing shops across the UK "millions and millions" of pounds in lost stock - but it isn't just businesses suffering. As major stores are targeted by sophisticated crime groups with shopping lists, Bluetooth headsets and get-away drivers, shoppers will also find themselves at a loss.

Nationally, 63 organised crime groups, who stole at least £2.4million worth of goods, are currently being tracked by National Business Crime Solutions (NBCS). Shoplifting was said to have added over £100 to the average household's annual shopping bill, according to the Centre for Retail Research.

Sarah Bird from NBCS told BirminghamLive: "From an economic point of view, retailers are losing millions and millions of pounds every year and that does go onto the customer bottom line, we as consumers end up paying for that.

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"It's not just the businesses that suffer, it's the general public as well. And £100 per year, while it might not be a big loss to some, it's a big loss to someone out there.

"If you are struggling to make ends meet and there's an extra £100 going onto your shopping because of inflation, that has a huge knock-on effect to various things. It's not on really."

A total of 26 organised gangs targeting UK businesses, including in Birmingham, are said to originate from the UK and Ireland, with the remaining groups thought to be Eastern European. Their tactics range from casually pushing trollies-full of champagne out of the shop doors, to filling baskets and bags with meat and spirits.

Retailers are now paying more than ever on security measures - and even having to move stock around the store to deter shoplifters. Items like beers, which stores want to display at the front of the shop, now have to be placed elsewhere to "stop thefts occurring," added Mrs Bird.

She said: "Economically, it's a struggle for the retailer, they're having to move items around the store, and put them in places which are not going to get stolen, that has a direct impact as well.

"Some retailers have to move the product to a different place in the store to stop the thefts occurring." Worryingly, shop workers are also having to deal with a rise in abuse, threats and violence as they carry out their jobs in retail.

Mrs Bird continued: "We don't see a big trend in violence and abuse with Eastern European gangs because they don't want to be detected. But we know, we've seen lots of evidence, that violence and abuse against shop workers, has risen in the last few years, particularly since we came out of lockdown.

Business crime prevention specialist Sarah Bird
Business crime prevention specialist Sarah Bird

"That is really worrying and it does have a huge impact, people don't go to work to be abused and attacked. But within retail it can be really quite precarious at the minute - especially if you're in an area that does attract regular, prolific offenders.

"Retailers are spending more and more than they ever have done on security provision and solutions out there. Things like the trolley technology, improved CCTV, body worn cameras, that's a huge thing for staff and customer safety."

Do you run a business? Have you been affected by shoplifting or organised crime? We would like to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing stephanie.balloo@reachplc.com