Cheltenham's rising shoplifting rates 'concern' businesses

Shoplifting rates have increased all over Gloucestershire

Businesses are "concerned" about thefts after Gloucestershire saw a big increase in shoplifting.

One retailer said it was "scary" to approach thieves while a local chamber of commerce blamed social media trends for the uplift.

Police said there were "people shoplifting for survivalist reasons" as well as prolific thieves.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said there has been 1,238 reported thefts in Cheltenham.

Across the county as a whole, thefts are up by 39% in a year.

Stroud, for example, saw a 78% increase on the previous year, but Gloucester has had the most reports - almost 1,400.

Independent shops throughout Gloucestershire have noticed an increase in shoplifting

Supt Roddy Gosden said Gloucestershire Constabulary are working closely with businesses to improve security and identify prolific offenders.

"We see a wide demographic around who commit the offences," said Mr Gosden.

"What we have seen in recent months is the number of people shoplifting for the first time.

"That is generally an indication that they are shop lifting for more economic reasons, so it's not a lifestyle choice as in prolific offenders.

"There are people who are shoplifting for more survivalist reasons."

Vicky Ruther, manager of an independent a shop in Nailsworth, says she has noticed an increase in shoplifting.

"We have people that come in and steal on a regular basis," said Ms Ruther.

"We are just retail assistants at the end of the day. We are paid a normal shop wage and my girls are young, a lot of them are in their twenties.

"None of them want to be approaching these people. It's scary.

National retailers want the Government to take more action to tackle shoplifting

Toney Davey, from Stroud's Chamber of Commerce, said he had noticed more reports of young people shoplifting.

"Unfortunately it's fuelled by a TikTok trend where some [people] will think it's a fun idea to do what they call 'borrow' from shops which essentially is stealing from them," he said.

"Very often, the different algorithms will rule out spreading and influencing through theft so it has been tagged as borrowing."

More than 80 retailers, including WH Smith, Tesco and Sainsbury's - have written to the Government asking for more action to tackle retail crime.

National retailers want a new aggravated offence of abusing or assaulting a retail worker.

Paul Gerrard is one of the Directors of the Co-op who also signed the letter. He said shoplifting has become more frequent and violent.

"Colleagues will see individuals and gangs come in daily," said Mr Gerrard.

"If my colleagues try to intervene, they will be threated, they will be abused. What my colleagues are seeing across the country is organised looting."