UK convenience stores saw just under 17,000 incidents of shop theft every day in the last year, according to the newly released ACS Crime Report, as the total number of retail crime incidents rose 11% year-on-year from 5.6m to 6.2m.

When compared to the ACS’ calculation of the total number of UK convenience stores at 50,387, the figures show that the average store saw 123 thefts in the past year.

The figure of 6.2m incidents overall also means that the UK saw just shy of 17,000 incidents of store theft every day. In contrast, only 492, 914 of these thefts were reported to police, just 8% of the total estimated number of incidents.

The report comes as parliament considers the Crime and Policing Bill at Second Reading stage today (10th March). The Bill aims to introduce a separate offence for assaulting a shop worker and scrap the £200 threshold for shop theft offences.

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Spending for shops

Outside of the cost of stock loss, retailers spent an average of £5,259 in the last year in crime prevention measures, adding up to a total of £265m nationwide. The main areas of spending were additional training on crime management for staff, additional equipment such as headsets, and post-incident support helplines, ACS said.

The report also found that 29% of retailers believe recent anti-crime investments make customers feel reassured about crime instore, whereas 16% of retailers said they think their customers find the extra measures frustrating.

Accounting for security measures and stock losses, retail crime cost shops £316m in total last year, ACS estimates. There were also over 59,000 estimated incidents of violence in the convenience sector over the last year, and 1.2m incidents of verbal abuse, while 59% of retailers believe that incidents involving organised crime have increased over the last year.

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Emmeline Taylor, professor of criminology at the University of London, said: ““Crime in and around shops continues to impact heavily on the convenience sector. Many retailers are struggling to operate their stores profitably and safely due to ongoing theft, violence and abuse.”

“We have seen some good progress made by the police and government and it is hoped that their commitments to tackle repeat offending will soon begin to translate into meaningful and sustainable change,” she added.

ACS chief executive chief executive James Lowman said: “The levels of theft, abuse and violence experienced by retailers over the last year makes for shocking reading, but it will not surprise our members who are living it on a daily basis. Criminals targeting local shops without fear of reproach cannot be allowed to continue, which is why we’re fully supportive of the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill.”