'I was a leech on society' over two decades of shoplifting

Danny Woodburn went from being helped by The Well to becoming a member of the team

From stealing crisps and sweets, to alcohol, clothing and cars, a once prolific shoplifter says what started as a "way of fitting in" soon became "a way of life".

Danny Woodburn was 11 when he started stealing in Barrow. He has been in and out of prison since he was 15.

"I'd steal cars and then set fire to them," the now 40-year-old recalled.

"I'd go in a shop and just pick up half a rail and walk out through the alarm, then run off."

He spent over two decades shoplifting and, during that time, struggled with alcoholism to the point he was robbing to fund his habit.

"There's a difference between stealing to make money and stealing in addiction.

"If I didn't drink a certain level, I'd have a seizure. There's times I've gone in the shops, opened a beer, drunk it and walked out.

"I didn't cover my identity or cover my face, I wasn't bothered about getting arrested."

Cumbria Police say officers are working with charities to tackle the link between addiction and shoplifting

In 2024 there were 2,422 reported shoplifting offences in Cumbria - the highest level since 2019, prior to the Covid lockdowns.

Figures obtained from the police up to the end of September this year show there have been 1,734 reported cases, with more than 450 resulting in someone being charged or summoned.

Insp Andy Leather, from the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Carlisle and Wigton, said: "In terms of crime count it's one of the most common offences that we deal with.

"It's not necessarily just the actual investigation time of the offences, it's looking at the driving forces behind the offending as well.

"We do see that a lot of our frequent offenders have a link to addiction, so we do work with charities and the retail sector.

"People tend to steal things that are high value that can easily be sold on without trace, so the things that we see regularly are expensive joints of meat, high value detergent and razor blades, because they are in demand."

Retail crime in cities including Carlisle has been on the rise for some time, police say

A Freedom of Information request to Cumbria Police has revealed that food, alcohol, clothing, cosmetics and toiletries are the main items stolen from stores last year.

Police figures also show the number of shoplifting cases with no identified suspect rose by 30% across the county between 2019 and 2024.

Insp Leather said: "We've invested in CCTV and we have a scheme where people can register their CCTV with ourselves so we have that documented."

Ch Insp Lee Skelton, who leads on shoplifting for Cumbria Police, said technology was improving with better video footage and facial recognition.

"Unfortunately retail crime has been on the rise for a while," he said. "However Cumbria has one of the highest level of positive outcomes; second only to Norfolk in terms of the volume of individuals who are brought to justice for this type of offending.

"And our response rate, so physically attending a report of shoplifting, is one of the highest in the country with between 60 and 70% dealt with."

'Needed a detox'

Shoplifters come from all sections of society, but police data from last year shows there were almost double the number of men than women caught shoplifting, while people aged between 25 and 34 were proportionately the largest age range committing these crimes.

"A lot of shop thefts are committed by prolific offenders and most of them are in addiction," Mr Woodburn said.

"I was dependent on alcohol, so the first thing I needed was a detox and that's what I was struggling with. It's a timely process and it costs money."

Most of the staff at The Well Organisation have themselves experienced addiction

In 2022 he went through a programme with Well Communities, a charity that supports people with drug and alcohol addiction in Kendal, Barrow and Carlisle.

Since opening in 2012, the charity has supported 1,171 people in addiction.

It also runs foodbanks, housing services and a "grow your own" programme which offers employment opportunities.

Most of the 69 members of staff who work for The Well have struggled with addiction.

Mr Woodburn, who now also works for the organisation, remembered: "The Well was like the ambulance and the key workers were like the paramedics. They brought me through a programme.

"I've done things I'm ashamed of but by reflecting on your behaviour you get a better look and understanding.

"I was a leech on society and a financial burden on resources.

"I was draining my own society and costing people money. I was an emotional burden on my own family as well.

"But people can change their life – I'm living proof of that."