Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner says she is “glad” reports of shoplifting are increasing in the county.
Lisa Townsend acknowledged that her response might seem “strange” to residents.
But rising reports are likely to reflect a more accurate picture of offending in Surrey – meaning police are better-equipped to respond.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics last month, which take into account crime to the year ending June 2024, show that reports of shoplifting rose by 53 per cent in just 12 months.
This is the highest number of reported offences in this category since 2015.
However, provisional figures suggest that the Force is now arresting significantly more shoplifters.
Shoplifting rates rise in Surrey…
In the past 12 months, 837 more arrests for shoplifting were made than the previous year.
Shoplifting offences are increasing across the country. Nationally, reports rose by 29 per cent, and are now at the highest levels since recording began.
Surrey has previously recorded some of the lowest rates of shoplifting in England and Wales.
Lisa said: “We know that Surrey has often been hailed for the low number of shoplifting incidents reported.
“But I’m glad that this isn’t the case anymore.
“That may sound very strange to the public.
“However, the likely truth of those low numbers is that victims simply weren’t reporting these crimes to Surrey Police.
…But so do arrests
“I have spoken with a huge number of retailers through my work. Just last year, at the Policing Your Community event in Woking, I was told that a branch of the Co-op was seeing up to 20 thefts a day.
“The Force has openly encouraged victims of all offences to make sure they are reporting crimes. I hope that the increase in shoplifting rates is, at least in part, a reflection of that.”
The Commissioner said it is not always possible for victims to feel there has been a satisfactory conclusion to a report.
However, arrests are increasing.
“In the past year, we have seen 837 more arrests for shoplifting,” she said.
Myth-busting
“Across the board, the Force’s arrest rate has risen significantly. When it comes to shoplifting in particular, the arrest rate was 8.1 per cent – it is now 18.4 per cent.
“We still have a long road to travel, but we are certainly heading in the right direction.”
Lisa also said there is a “pervasive myth” that police will only attend if items worth more than £200 are stolen.
“Put as clearly as possible, this isn’t true,” she said.
“During a recent plain-clothed operation at Sainsbury’s in Redhill, I watched as a shoplifter was arrested for stealing items worth just £7.50.”
Force’s success stories
The issue has been repeatedly raised during the Policing Your Community events, which are currently taking place across the county.
Members of the public have heard some of the Force’s success stories.
At the event in Tandridge during late October, Borough Commander Lyndsey Whatley said three suspected members of an all-female organised crime group (OCG) have recently been charged.
In Spelthorne, Borough Commander Matt Walton revealed his team’s shoplifting detection rate is up by 50 per cent.
And in Guildford, three shoplifters connected to organised criminality have recently been jailed for stealing almost £200,000-worth of goods from supermarkets.
‘Report it’ plea
The thieves are believed to be responsible for more than 100 crimes targeting large supermarkets.
Surrey Police’s investigators worked in partnership with Tesco, wading through hours of CCTV footage, to secure the convictions.
Lisa said: “The Chief Constable, Tim De Meyer, takes shoplifting incredibly seriously.
“When I speak to officers, they take it incredibly seriously.
“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, and we urge retailers to continue reporting offences as and when they occur.”
Lisa Townsend has urged victims of shoplifting to keep reporting offences