Shoplifting surge sees police record more than 500,000 cases in a year for first time

More than half a million shoplifting offences have been recorded by police in England and Wales for the first time.

A total of 516,971 were logged in 2024, up 20% from 429,873 in 2023. It's the highest since current recording practices began more than 20 years ago, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It said shoplifting had been at record levels for the last two years - with a sharp rise since the pandemic. However, many offences are not reported to police so the actual number is likely to be far higher.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) says shoplifting costs the retail sector millions each year, adding strain to an industry already grappling with post-pandemic recovery and economic uncertainty. In September, Co-op said theft and fraud had cost it £39.5m in just six months and that it had logged 172,000 incidents.

For small businesses, persistent theft can threaten their very survival. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said the government would not "tolerate the criminality blighting our communities" and that it was "putting almost 3,000 more bobbies on the beat in neighbourhood roles this year".

Theft from the person offences have also reached their highest level under current recording methods. Police recorded 152,416 in the year ending December 2024 - a rise of 22%, according to the ONS.

Mobile phones are the most commonly stolen item in this category. However, when considering the Crime Survey for England and Wales, rather than official police figures, the ONS estimates the 2024 figure to be much higher - 483,000 - up 50%.

In total, 1.8 million theft offences were logged by police, up 1% on the year before. Read more from Sky News:Ofcom sets out new codes to protect children online'Children can't go to the shop without fear of being stabbed' The figures have been disclosed as part of the ONS report on crime in England and Wales.

Other findings include homicide offences falling 5% from 563 to 535, the lowest since the 533 recorded in 2013-2014. Meanwhile, knife crime was up 2% to 54,587 but is still below the pre-pandemic 2020 figure of 55,140.

Overall, 6.64 million crimes were recorded by police in England and Wales, down by 1% from 6.68 million in 2023..