Shoplifting is your own fault, police chief tells stores as thefts rise

A SENIOR police chief has blamed retailers for a rise in shoplifting as figures out today are expected to show record rises in so-called low-level crime.

Supt Lee Pache, of Lincolnshire Police, told The Daily Telegraph that a deliberate policy in some large stores to cut the number of security guards and keep valuable items in unlocked cabinets near the doors takes up valuable time as officers are forced to attend when people steal, taking them away from more serious crime.

He called for stores to think again about how they patrol for persistent shoplifters, after figures showed the number of offences rose 30 per cent in the region between 2016 and 2017.

Forces across the country have expressed concerns about the impact of cuts on their ability to attend crimes such as burglary and thefts from cars and vans.

Another division told The Telegraph that it had stopped attending some shoplifting offences, except where large amounts are being stolen or the offender is still in the shop.

Supt Pache, the business crime lead in Lincolnshire, said the decision by some large retailers to cut back on security guards has led to more work for officers, who are already overstretched.

He said the force encourages shops to challenge persistent shoplifters, who are listed publicly, and then prevent them entering the store to stop crime before it occurs. But many large retail groups are cutting guards, allowing persistent offenders in and watching them as they steal items before confronting them in a bid to secure a prosecution to act as a deterrent.

He said some supermarket chains are making millions in profits but are failing to do enough to tackle shoplifting.

“They allow offences to take place,” he said, adding: “If they increased the number of security guards and took on the challenge and prevent method, the amount of demand on us would significantly reduce and that would allow us to focus on the greatest risk offences.”