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The UK’s Association of Convenience Stores has highlighted that retail crime is becoming an increasingly significant concern.
In their recent crime insight report, the ACS pointed out that the most frequently pilfered items in convenience stores are alcohol, sweets, and meat.
Major retailer Sainsbury’s has confirmed to the BBC that they are prioritizing the security of these high-theft products.
There is speculation that stolen chocolate is being resold by organized criminal networks.
According to the British Retail Consortium, there were 5.5 million recorded shoplifting incidents across the UK last year, although the actual number, including unreported cases, is probably much larger.
“Organised criminal gangs are increasingly targeting high-value, easily resold goods, exploiting the lack of consequences from law enforcement,” the BRC said in a release.
The cost of the detected shoplifting came to nearly £400 million ($764.7 million).
“Theft remains a huge issue, with an increasingly concerning link to organised criminal gangs, who continue to systematically target one store after another, stealing tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods in one go,” BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said.
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