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Exclusive: Majority of cash-and-carry thieves evade capture

95% of crimes against retailers and wholesalers at cash-and-carries are unresolved

Fewer than one in 20 crimes against retailers and wholesalers at cash-and-carry branches result in a charge or summons, an investigation by Better Revealing has revealed. While only 12 out of nearly 50 police forces responded to freedom of information requests sent by Better Retailing, the data provided covered 100 offences at depots in 2023. Only 5% resulted in a charge or a summons. Meanwhile, 65.5% were marked as ‘unre­solved’ or ‘no suspect identified’.

At least one retailer has been killed due to a rob­bery at a cash and carry since 2010. Serious incidents involving or­ganised groups continue to put shop owners and depot staff at risk. In late December, two indi­viduals narrowly avoided being run over during a robbery at a west-London cash and carry (pictured).

Survey

The Federation of Wholesale Distribu­tors (FWD) said its most recent survey showed 100% of wholesalers said crime was a foremost concern. Most attributed this to “inadequate police responsiveness”.

James Bielby, chief ex­ecutive of the trade group, told Better Retailing the rate of thefts from customers at depots going unresolved was “alarmingly high”. He added that work was underway to address the challenges faced by wholesalers and their customers. This includes a regular FWD “crime forum” at­tended by major wholesal­ers, with evidence col­lated creating “a heatmap of incidents” including theft frequency, volumes, location and severity.

“This support to our members, along with an increase in police response under the Retail Crime Action Plan (RCAP), is vital,” Bielby said.

RCAP

Launched in October 2023, the RCAP saw police forces agree to priori­tise retail crime. Bielby revealed that, in January, the FWD and wholesalers met with the Home Office and the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) “to brief them on the ongoing challenges”.

Bielby added: “FWD was pleased to learn that the RCAP will include the wholesale sector, both those who work within a cash-and-carry setting and retailers visiting depots.”

Over 10% of crimes at cash and carries were resolved through com­munity action, or not investigated at the request of the victim.

Bielby added: “FWD is confident that our enhanced engagement with the Home Office and NBCC is a step in the right direction. Awareness of wholesale depot crime is at an all-time high among these agencies.

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