Shoplifting is becoming endemic (Image: Getty)
Organised gangs and career criminals are effectively “looting” our high street, bosses warned last night.
Retail chiefs say shoplifting is getting “steadily worse” – as thieves trawl stores stealing food, clothes, alcohol or cosmetics.
Shopworkers said louts are being dropped off in “blacked-out cars” and “sweeping” products off shelves into bags.
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They slammed police for failing to do more to tackle the epidemic, claiming “criminals are operating without fear of consequences”.
Store managers warned that staff are living in constant fear of gangs. Matt Hood, the food managing director at Co-op, said: “We know retail crime is driven by repeat and prolific offenders and organised criminal gangs. It is an ongoing challenge for all retailers.
“And in the worst instances can even be described as ‘looting’.”
Co-op said shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in stores has risen by 35 percent over the first six months of this year – with more than 1,000 a day.
Matt added: “I have seen some horrific incidents of brazen, -violent theft. I see how this erodes the fabric of our communities. It’s hard to over-emphasise how important change is. Too often forces fail to respond.”
The Association of Convenience Stores said: “This organised criminal activity exploits vulnerable people by getting them to steal in exchange for their next fix, funds the drug trade and harms businesses that provide essential services.”
Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Acquisitive Crime, said: “Forces take any incident of violence incredibly seriously and will prioritise our response where there is a risk to -individuals.
"In some cases, there may not be enough information for police to act upon or bring about criminal proceedings.”
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