Shoplifting hits record high in England and Wales

Shoplifting in England and Wales reaches record high as official figures show a 20% increase in reported offences, with a total of 530,643 shoplifting incidents in the year to March. Retailers are alarmed by the surge, attributing it to a rise in organized crime during the pandemic. British Retailers Association director Tom Ironside emphasizes that retail theft is not victimless, leading to violence, abuse towards staff, and costing retailers and customers £2.2bn annually.