Interactive map shows Britain’s shoplifting capitals: how bad is YOUR area?

• EXCLUSIVE: Shoplifting hotspots across Britain revealed in shocking map
• Less than 20 percent of shoplifting offenses resulted in suspects being charged

As Britain recovers from a shoplifting crisis hitting stores across the country, the areas worst hit by the crime have been revealed.

Data obtained and analyzed by MailOnline shows that there have been more than one million shoplifting offenses over the past five years.

However, the British Retail Consortium estimated the real figure to be eight million, costing stores almost £1 billion over the year.

By dividing the number of shoplifting offenses by the population each police force is responsible for, MailOnline has created a ranking of the UK’s shoplifting hotspots.

Cleveland tops the rankings as the place with the highest number of shoplifting crimes over the past five years per 1,000 residents.

CLICK ON THE MAP TO SEE WHERE YOUR AREA RANKS

During the period 2018-2023, 32,378 cases of shoplifting were reported in the region.

With a population of 570,000 according to the most recent census data, this equates to 56.80 crimes per 1,000 residents.

We can reveal that Surrey has been found to be the safest place in Britain when it comes to shoplifting.

Over the past five years, only 18,817 cases of shoplifting have been reported in the region.

With a population of 1,205,600 according to the most recent census data, this equates to 15.61 crimes per 1,000 residents.

MailOnline can also reveal that while UK police investigated 1,580,277 shoplifting offenses over the past five years, only 18% of them ultimately resulted in a charge or summons.

The scourge of shoplifting on Britain’s streets has prompted retail bosses to call on the police for more help to tackle the problem.

Earlier this week, the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) said it was facing a £12m rise in the cost of shoplifting, with bosses at the retail giant blaming the rise of organized crime.

Dame Sharon White, chairwoman of the department store owner, told reporters the recent spate of shoplifting from stores was due to “criminal groups” rather than theft linked to the soaring cost of food. life.

The boss said she met Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, earlier this week to discuss shoplifting.

The retailer has called on the Government to change legislation in England and Wales to make it a criminal offense to abuse store workers, in line with rules in Scotland.

The Primark boss on Monday called on police, prosecutors and magistrates to take the shoplifting crisis “more seriously”, after the clothing retailer saw a rise in cases of thefts and attacks against employees.

George Weston is one of the latest retail chiefs to speak out after John Lewis chairman Dame Sharon White warned that shoplifting had become an “epidemic”.

He said: “We are having more clothes stolen than ever before, it is increasing. There has been an increase in anti-social behavior including attacks on store staff.

Last month Waitrose, the supermarket arm of JLP, said it would offer free tea and coffee to police officers in a bid to boost their presence in stores.

German discount supermarket chain Lidl said on Thursday it was stepping up investment in store security amid rising shoplifting, stepping up CCTV coverage and deploying more body cameras at its points of sale. sale.

JD Sports has been at the center of the shoplifting storm this month after posts widely shared on TikTok and Snapchat two weeks ago urged yobs to wear balaclavas and gloves and “steal JD Sports » on Oxford Street at 3 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon.

Other chains such as John Lewis, Waitrose Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Boots are now distributing body cameras to staff and providing training to deter violence from aggressive thieves.

Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association, previously told MailOnline: ‘This year we have seen a significant increase in retail crime.

“In the past, store thefts were dominated by people with chaotic lives and driven by drug addiction. However, there now appears to be a more organized approach to fly-to-order.

“Large supermarkets use safety labels on products like meat and cheese, or display empty coffee pots.

“One of our members recently reported an incident where a gang, outside the area, targeted a few shops and left. All very quickly, organized, professional and choosing a variety of small businesses and a range of products.

“Other members have made similar comments as they know the local criminals, but new faces are now committing the crime.”