Surge in prices ‘to fuel rise in shoplifting’ forecast

RISING prices during the cost of living crisis are “set to fuel more shoplifting offences” across North Wales, a council report said.

The prediction came as part of a report into crime figures at a Cyngor Gwynedd scrutiny meeting.

A rise in theft and handling - the category which includes shoplifting - had seen a “marked increase” across Gwynedd and the North Wales police force area. “With increases in the cost of living, it was predicted that shoplifting offences will rise over the coming months,” the report stated.

The figures came in a report to the Communities Scrutiny Committee (Crime and Disorder) during the annual update by the community safety partnership for Anglesey and Gwynedd. Crime category stats had been compared from 2020/21 with 2022/23.

Shoplifting in Gwynedd was now 53.8% higher year-to-date in comparison to last year, with the force seeing an overall increase of 32.3%. Theft and handling crimes had risen by 14.7 percent in Gwynedd, up from 834 incidents to 957, with a 25% increase across North Wales.

Presenting an overview of the report, Gwen Davies, Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Partnership Senior Operational Officer said that although Gwynedd and Anglesey remained “amongst the safest places to live”, it had many similar issues as the rest of the UK.

“The partnership is very mindful of the current cost of living crisis we are facing, and we have seen a rise in theft and handling crimes locally,” she said. “Research has shown that socio-economic deprivation is linked to greater chances of interacting with the justice system, being a victim of crime, or not feeling safe in a community.

“We are also aware that the current situation could lead to desperation for many, inevitably providing further opportunities for organised crime groups.”