Shop Theft.

Shop Theft.

Shop theft is not a victimless crime - and abuse or harassment towards shop workers is never acceptable. 

Shop theft, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on local businesses, employees and our wider communities. It can result in financial losses for businesses, create additional pressure on staff and contribute to an environment where people feel unsafe at work. 

This week, we are supporting Safer Business Action Week, a national effort to prevent, reduce, and stop shop theft and abuse towards retail workers.  

We are taking proactive action to tackle shop theft, antisocial behaviour and threatening or abusive behaviour towards shop workers. Local officers are working closely with councils, Business Improvement Districts, local businesses and business crime partnerships to identify prolific offenders, prevent further crime and bring those responsible to justice. 

We know that early intervention is important. While we will take enforcement action where appropriate, including arrests, fines and Criminal Behaviour Orders, we are also working to address offending behaviour and divert individuals away from crime through initiatives such as Offending to Recovery and appropriate out-of-court disposals. 

But we need your help. 

We are urging businesses, shop workers and members of the public to report shop theft, harassment, threatening behaviour and antisocial behaviour to the police. 

Please don’t assume that someone else has reported an incident or that an offence is too minor to tell us about. Every report helps us build intelligence, identify repeat offenders, understand where problems are occurring and target our response effectively. 

Shop workers have the right to do their jobs without fear of intimidation, abuse or harassment. Businesses deserve to operate without the ongoing impact of crime. 

By working together, sharing information and reporting incidents, we can challenge offending behaviour, protect local businesses and make our town centres safer places for everyone. 

You can report shop theft and antisocial behaviour to us online, by calling 101, or talking to your local police team. Always call 999 if you see a crime in progress or there is a threat to life.