The number of shop thefts recorded by the police has reached a new high, with 529,994 incidents tallied by the Office for National Statistics over the 12 months to June 2025.
The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales, published today (23rd October 2025), has shown that in the 12 months to June 2025, there were 529,994 recorded shoplifting offences compared to 469,698 in the previous year. This is an increase of 13%.
The last ONS publication on shop theft figures earlier this year showed a 12-month increase of 20%, so the rate of that increase is beginning to slow. However, the number of offences continues the trend of ONS crime outputs showing the highest ever recorded figures since current recording practices began in 2003.
Figures from the 2025 ACS Crime Report show that there were over 6.2million incidents of theft recorded by convenience retailers alone over the last year, so there remains a significant gap between what is happening on the ground and what is being recorded by forces.
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: “Tackling theft remains the top priority issue for the convenience sector and we continue to encourage retailers to report incidents when they occur. While shocking, the latest record figures from the ONS show that more reporting of crime is happening and the gap between what the police record and what happens is starting to close.
“There have been welcome developments recently on police action to tackle retail crime, particularly with the introduction of a trial in Sussex to fit electronic monitoring tags to prolific offenders, and Operation Zoridon in London which targeted retailers selling stolen and illicit goods. Furthermore, the Crime and Policing Bill will be introduced early next year, making it a separate offence to assault a shopworker among other measures. ACS has been calling for a complete reset on the perception of retail crime and especially shop theft, with an ambition to send a clear message that theft is a crime that will be investigated by local forces.”
