“We can’t stop them”: Shoplifting on the rise in Sunderland city centre
Written by Sarah Leaver on 13th February 2025
Shoplifting is the third highest crime reported by Northumbria Police in the year ending November 2024, statistics show.
Data from Northumbria Police shows that there were 802 cases of shoplifting in the year from December 2023 to November 2024.
In November alone, there were 52 cases, accounting for 9.5% of all crime in Sunderland that month.
Man Stealing In Supermarket. Credit: Alamy Images
Anil, who works in M&S Mart in Sunderland city centre, said: “In the evenings a lot of homeless people and drunks come here, and kids.
“They come in and they pick up and keep things and throw stuff around.”
When asked about deterrence, Anil said: “We can’t stop them, but we inform the police who regularly patrol the area, asking if everything is okay.
Figures from the annual crime survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) shows that incidents of customer theft reported by retailers rose by 3.7 million to 20.4 million in the year ending September 2024.
Shoplifting cost retailers £2bn, and adds £133 to the average shopping bill, according to the Centre for Retail Research.
According to the BRC, violence and abuse against shopworkers also rose by 50%.
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) said: “Usdaw is deeply concerned by today’s police recorded crime statistics showing that in the year to September 2024, there were increases in shoplifting across all North East constabulary areas.
“The Office for National Statistics released figures today showing a 14% increase in shoplifting incidents across North East constabulary.”
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that shoplifting offences reported by the police in England and Wales as a whole had risen by 23%, which is the highest figures since recording practices began in 2003.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary said: This is in no way a victimless crime, with weapons and violence used to ensure these criminals are not stopped.
“Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers.”
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