The number of shop thefts recorded by the police has increased by 5 per cent on the previous year to 519,381 incidents, shows the latest official figures released today (Jan 29).
The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales, published by the Office for National Statistics, has shown that in the 12 months to September 2025, there were 519,381 recorded shop theft offences compared to 492,660 in the previous year.
This 5 per cent increase marks the first time in a number of years that the overall shop theft record has not been broken every quarter - the 12 month period to June 2025 retains this record at 529,994 shop theft offences.
Elsewhere in the survey, the number of robberies of business properties has risen sharply to 22,478 offences - an increase of 66 per cent on the previous year.
There was also a fall in the number of offences involving knives and sharp instruments of 9 per cent to 50,430 offences compared to the previous year.
Responding to ONS data, Lucy Whing, Crime Policy Adviser at the BRC, said, “Retail theft is a serious issue for retailers across the country. While the causes are manifold, the rise in organised crime is particularly concerning, with gangs systematically targeting one store after another.
"Theft is also one of the main triggers for violence and abuse against retail workers. Government, police and retailers are committed to working together to turn the tide on crime.
"We will soon see the implementation of the Crime and Policing Bill, which will remove the £200 threshold for ‘low level’ theft, sending a clear signal that shoplifting will not be tolerated.
"It will also introduce a standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker, strengthening sentencing and improving the visibility of violence against retail workers so that police can allocate the necessary resources to tackle this challenge and protect our high streets and colleagues.”
The figures days after the announcement of £7 million injection into neighbourhood policing and intelligence-led enforcement as part of the government’s biggest overhaul of policing in more than 200 years.
Announced in a Home Office white paper published on Monday (Jan 26), the funding will support a major crackdown on organised retail crime gangs, with money earmarked to help forces identify offenders, disrupt tactics used to target shops and bring more criminals to justice.
For convenience retailers grappling with rising theft and antisocial behaviour, the reforms place renewed emphasis on visible local policing. Under an expanded Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, every council ward will have its own named, contactable officers, building on the existing rollout of local teams.
The government has also set new national response targets, with forces expected to reach the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in cities and 20 minutes in rural areas, and to answer 999 calls within 10 seconds.