Criminal gangs blamed for shoplifting surge

Greater Manchester Police said officers were having to be more savvy to catch offenders

Organised criminal gangs "stealing to order" have contributed to a surge in shoplifting across Greater Manchester, politicians and police have said.

There were 21,890 cases of shoplifting recorded by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in 2024 - a 20.1% increase on the previous year.

Deborah Turner, who was targeted by shoplifters at her store in Ashton-under-Lyne, said: "You feel gutted because its profit gone out of the door."

GMP said it was "working with shopping centres and using our own technology to bring shoplifters to justice".

The city region's deputy mayor Kate Green said: "Its not just somebody who cant afford food or a mum who can't afford nappies.

"What we're seeing a lot of is organised criminality with gangs shoplifting to order for high value items, which are then sold on the black market".

Deborah Turner sells shoes and handbags at New Shu on Market Street in Ashton-under-Lyne

Ms Turner, who runs the New Shu store which sells shoes and handbags, said thieves use distraction techniques to steal designer goods.

"People come in with prams, ask for shoes in a different size, you go to find them and by that time, they've taken a handbag and they're off," she said.

"They always pick the nice things and its like a kick in the teeth."

Atif Mahmood, who owns Zinq Couture clothes store in the Arcade shopping centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, said he "wont let anyone take anything".

He said the shoplifters had also targeted designer brands but store staff had often managed to apprehend those responsible.

"We've realised that the thieves have taken something so we've caught them. I want my stuff back, its as simple as that," he said.

Atif Mahmood runs Zinq Couture in the Arcade shopping centre in Ashton under Lyne

GMP said 25.7% of shoplifting reports resulted in "solved outcomes" last year, a 7.1% increase on 2023.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle said the force had recently embedded a team of officers at the Trafford Centre.

"We're working with the retail outlets to identify groups who're stealing to order and using techniques which will mask alarms as they leave stores.

"We are determined to reduce retail crime to make our business community safer and we will make huge strides in this area."