48-49_Shoplifting.qxp_Grid 27/07/2024 16:25 Page 1
Retailing Issue
(SHOP)LIFTING THE LID A video recently uploaded to YouTube showing a thief brazenly stealing from a Cardfactory store in broad daylight has clocked up 740,000 views and counting, a shocking example of how shoplifting has escalated to a frightening level for card and gift retailers, damaging not only profitability, but safety of those working in shops. PG hopes that King Charles’ speech at the State Opening of Parliament, which backed up the new Labour government’s promise for new laws to address retail crime means something really can be done to stem this pernicious practice. “Shoplifting is at crisis level,” exclaimed Priya Aurora-Crowe, co-owner of Lark, echoing the views of fellow gift and card retailers at a recent Retailer Roundtable discussion organised by PG’s sibling Progressive Gifts & Home convened at the recent Harrogate Home & Gift. “There are so many repeat offenders, who steal in front of you without caring – it is putting off people wanting to work in retail. Something has to be done, and quickly,” Priya added. “We need more police, stricter laws and funding. The level of shoplifting is really hurting the retail trade and hurting humanity.” A sad indictment of just how bad the situation has become is captured in a candid reel filmed in Cardfactory’s Holloway store in north London and uploaded onto the @londonukstreetnews YouTube channel which shows how the shopstaff were forced to watch as one man clears whole shelves of confectionery and other products off the till counter while his accomplice holds the door open. Bravely one of the Cardfactory team stops the thief taking any more with a “That’ll do now, come on…” as he leaves with a bulging bag of stolen goods. All this at 10am in a busy high street. But Cardfactory is far from alone in suffering at the hands of shoplifters. Indie store Cornucopia in Worcester, for one, took 48 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
to social media recently to highlight the scale of shoplifting it has been suffering, with mum and daughter owners Clare and Hannah Bishop saying they felt forced to acknowledge the “troubling trend” impacting their small business. They posted: “The rise in shoplifters targeting our store has reached alarming levels, with incidents occurring more frequently than ever before. Every week, we face the distressing reality of theft from our shop – a crime that has consequences not only for our business, but for our community as a whole.” Explaining that they have 24-hour CCTV Above: Lifting the lid on shoplifting needs more than hot air to sort the issue. Below and right: Lark’s Priya Aurora-Crowe and husband Dominic were happy at The Retas, but are far from happy about the reality of shoplifting in its 19 stores.
surveillance, and the support of the shopping centre’s security guards, as well as police cooperation with numerous cases under investigation, Clare and Hannah reached out to customers for assistance, asking for help in identifying those involved in the thefts. And a follow-up post on showed the response: “We are truly touched by the outpouring of support and solidarity from our community in response to the recent challenges we’ve faced with an increase in shoplifters. “The safety and well-being of our staff and customers are our top priorities and to have such unwavering encouragement from all of