Shoplifting arrests in Britain surge to one every ten minutes, driven by repeat offenders

Analysis of Freedom of Information requests from 32 police forces - representing 82% of England and Wales - shows shoplifting arrests climbed from 20,253 in 2021 to 52,409 in 2025, a 158% rise and equating to about 144 arrests per day or one every ten minutes. Repeat offenders accounted for roughly one quarter of all arrests, with Hertfordshire reporting 80% repeat rates and the Metropolitan Police about two-thirds. Retailers say organised gangs are focusing on easily resold goods such as meat, cheese, alcohol and coffee, leading some outlets, like Greggs, to move products behind theft-proof counters and remove self-service displays.

A serial shoplifter known as “Hamster” stole nearly £2,000 of food from a single Greggs branch in six weeks. Analysts attribute the surge to a mix of opportunistic theft, financial strain, addiction, gambling, mental-health issues and compulsive stealing. The government is preparing to implement the Crime and Policing Act, which will remove the £200 threshold for low-value theft and introduce a specific offence for assaulting retail staff, though the new measures have not yet taken effect.