Thieves in Coventry target shops more than 50 times a week

Shoplifting has risen year-on-year in every part of Coventry and Warwickshire, according to Home Office figures. More than 2,600 crimes have been reported in Coventry in the past year – more than 50 a week.

The city had the highest number of theft incidents in our area and the highest crime rate per 1,000 residents at 7.5. Crime rose by 39% in the year ending March 2024 compared to the previous 12 months.

But shoplifting is on the rise elsewhere, too. North Warwickshire saw an increase of 58%, Nuneaton and Bedworth 18%, Rugby 30% and South Warwickshire 12%.

Read more: Coventry student flats ‘too small’ to let to permanent residents

You can see the full breakdown of stats for your area on our map below. Shoplifting has hit a national record as thieves steal ‘without fear of apprehension’.

Police in England and Wales recorded 444,000 theft offenses in the year ending March 2024, a 30% increase on the previous year (342,000 offences) and the highest since records began 20 years ago years. But in some parts of the country, the rise in shoplifting has been much steeper – gradual in one area and doubling in seven others.

Home Office figures show that in Eastbourne, Sussex, police recorded 2,150 theft offenses in the year ending March 2024 – up from 676 the previous year and a 218% increase. Thefts also doubled in Mid Sussex, Horsham, Bracknell Forest, Rother, Blaby, Bridgend and South Derbyshire.

But while shoplifting rose in most of the more than 300 Police Community Safety Partnership areas – which broadly match council areas – retail theft fell in 28 areas.

The Isle of Anglesey in Wales saw the biggest decrease (15%), followed by Redcar and Cleveland and Folkestone and Hythe (14%). Apart from central London, Worthing in West Sussex had the highest burglary rate (23.2 per 1,000 population) followed by Lincoln (21.5).

You can see if shoplifting is going up or down where you live using our interactive map.

Sussex Police previously attributed the increase in theft crimes in areas such as Eastbourne, Mid Sussex and Horsham to greater confidence in reporting retail crime after officers proactively engaged with businesses to encourage them to contact police . The force has also introduced measures to make reporting crime easier and more effective, which it says has “resulted in a significant increase in the number of reports received”.

In the King’s Speech earlier this month, the new government promised to end shoplifting. The Labor Crime and Policing Bill promises to “introduce stronger measures to tackle low-level theft” as well as a separate offense for assaulting a worker.

James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “The gangs who commit most of these crimes against retailers are usually organised, stealing to fund other criminal activities or drug and alcohol habits.

“They often steal to order, targeting higher value items to sell to normal people struggling with the cost of living. These thieves steal regularly without fear of apprehension, so it is essential that every police force in the country takes shoplifting seriously, not least because challenging shoplifters is one of the biggest triggers of shop worker abuse “.

Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of Bira – the British Association of British Retailers – said: “Bira has been working hard over the past 18 months to make government and police forces aware of the impact of this issue.

“We have seen some improvements in response times from the police, but we need to maintain this momentum after the change of government. We also think a greater police presence on the high street would really help and would like to see more detail behind Labour’s plans to focus on neighborhood policing.

“The problem of retail crime and employee abuse is not going away and we need clear action backed by clear deterrents.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper blamed the rise in crime on “the last Tory government’s disgraceful disregard for law and order”.

She said: “She said, ‘We can’t go on like this. This Labor Government will put neighborhood policing back on the pace in our city centers with stronger laws on knife crime, shoplifting and assaults on shop workers to keep our communities safe.”

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