Shoplifting in the United Kingdom was slashed during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis of 2020 police data, with lockdowns and the closure of non-essential retail leading to the first reduction in theft since 2018. However, retailers are being warned that shoplifters will hit the profits of stores across the country, as the big reopening continues through May and into the summer and thieves continue to be let off.
Analysis of the data by Checkpoint Systems, a pioneer in the Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) market with more than 50 years of experience, has revealed a clear correlation between store closures and a reduction in shoplifting incidents, which declined by 30% compared to the same period in 2019. However, while these declines can be seen during the periods of mass closure across the UK, the reprieve was short-lived.
