Shoplifting figures skewed by stores’ silence

SIR – Your report (October 17) that the Metropolitan Police will not investigate “all shoplifting” does not mention that under-reporting of shoplifting can be responsible for a serious skewing of crime figures.

In my experience as a former police officer, most of the time shops don’t report theft (s). Unlike car crime and vandalism, shoplifting is only detected if a person is arrested, having been discovered by direct observation (normally store detectives). This means that there is no recording or evaluation of unobserved instances of this form of theft.

Many stores have open displays from which it is easy to steal. They employ few staff and have little or no actual security.

If stores do not report thefts, why should the police deal with these incidents as priority matters?

Chris Walker

London SW19

SIR – It is truly a sad day if burglary is now to be regarded as a low-level crime by the police.

Surely it is a fundamental right to regard both one’s home and one’s belongings as sacrosanct. Any breach denotes lawlessness and in no way should be condoned.

Ian Nalder

Regoul, Nairnshire