OPINION: Theft in shops is rising – these are not victimless crimes – James Lowman, chief executive, ACS

Whenever we talk to retailers, the biggest issue is always crime. The most widespread crime that retailers experience is theft. We’ve tracked levels of shop theft in the convenience sector for more than a decade through our Voice of Local Shops survey (VOLS) to provide an accurate picture of the impact these incidents have on our sector. While there have been ups and downs over the years, the recent trend is concerning.