BIG RETAILERS HIT BY SHOPLIFTING SURGE
POLICE chiefs say that shoplifting is on the rise in Inverclyde due to the cost of living crisis.
Thefts from stores elsewhere and crimes of dishonesty have soared by almost a quarter in the district, according to official new figures which cover the period between April 1 and December 31 last year.
There were 1,213 such crimes in Inverclyde, with shoplifting up by 30 per cent on the same period the previous year, with a number of prolific offenders contributing to the surge. Eight repeat offenders were identified and charged in almost 29 per cent of shoplifting crimes.
The report presented to the councillors shows that detection of such overall crimes is 42.2 per cent, which is almost 10 per cent higher than the national rate.
Fraud was up by over 50 per cent locally on the previous year, to a total of 154 offences.
The statistics were discussed at a meeting of the local police and fire scrutiny panel, with member Councillor Robert Moran asking senior officers why there had been such a sharp increase in the number of shoplifting crimes.
He said: “There has been a lot of publicity about a rise in shoplifting, and assaults on staff, is there any reason for that big jump?”
Area Commander Gordon McCreadie replied: “The cost of living crisis is hard on everyone in a day-to-day basis.”
He added that in addition retailers may also be finding it tough and could be trying to save on security costs.
Mr McCreadie added: “There are many larger retail parks now that weren’t here ten or 20 years ago. People
see these shops as national conglomerates, they see this as victimless crimes and less of an insult to their community.”
He added that the bigger the store, the more organised groups are to target them.
Chief Supt McCreadie said a large percentage of thefts were committed by people with alcohol or other substance abuse problems.
He said: “Our officers always try to signpost them to other groups for support for problems with drink and drugs.”
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Moran, inset, told the Telegraph that he agreed with the area commander that certain stores had been targeted.
He said: “I definitely feel one of the reasons shoplifting is up is because bigger retail shops have been cutting back on their own security measures. It’s a real problem. It costs us all a lot of money.”
He added that the cost of living crisis was also a major factor.
Police have been trying to tackle shoplifting using a partnership approach.
Cllr Moran says a Radiolink system is being used by premises in Port Glasgow and Greenock, to warn other shopkeepers that culprits are in the area and could be on their way.
Community police are also working with the Retailers Against Crime organisation to develop intelligence gathering opportunities and crime prevention techniques.
Meanwhile, the report presented to the panel members showed that housebreaking crime has fallen by 1.3 per cent on the previous year.