Recent headlines paint a bleak picture of retail theft in London. From last week’s smash-and-grab jewel robbery in Richmond, to Tom Cruise abandoning his Knightsbridge apartment after a nearby Rolex heist, media attention has focused on theft in affluent areas of the capital.
High-end shopping districts with fashionable outlets are the recipient for much of this crime. Watches, jewellery, and expensive clothing are key targets for organised gangs, willing to rob stores in open daylight for a quick profit.
Alongside these robberies, London continues to see an epidemic of everyday shoplifting.
While violent crime has steadily fallen, shoplifting has seen an increase over the past five years. This is a country-wide trend that is especially pronounced in London.
Offences rose by 19% in 2025, in line with an overall increase of 165% beginning from 2021.
Recent data from the Metropolitan Police shows that most shoplifting is concentrated in Westminster, having over twice the number of offences as runner-up Camden.
According to the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the sector has “invested millions in crime prevention measures”. These range from locked cabinets and access control for staff to increased security and more comprehensive CCTV surveillance.
But there’s another issue. Tagging household items and locking goods behind glass makes in-person shopping an unfriendly, inaccessible experience.
When online shopping is popular and frictionless, consumers may be less willing to visit their local high street when the process involves further complications, time constraints and physical limitations.
London has the highest amount of retail footfall in the country, boasting shopping hubs such as Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street. Concerns around retail theft may be putting these districts at risk.
The nationwide downturn in footfall can be attributed to a variety of issues – cost of living, online ease, and lower consumer confidence – but creating a worse shopping environment will only accelerate this decline.
Lucy Whing, Crime Policy Advisor at the British Retail Consortium, is confident in the government’s Crime and Policing Bill. She hopes it will send “a clear signal that shoplifting will not be tolerated… improving the visibility of violence against retail workers so that police can allocate the necessary resources to tackle this challenge and protect our high streets”.
The bill will create a new specific offence for assaulting a shop-worker and lower the threshold for what is considered ‘low-value’ shoplifting. Legislation to empower police forces may prove necessary in tackling theft and protecting retail staff.
Andrew Goodacre is CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association. He told City News: “We are seeing a better response from the police. However, there are more than 500,000 incidents reported each year, and that is just the tip of the iceberg with the majority of retailers still not reporting incidents. Nearly every type of shop is a target for these criminals.”
Looking ahead, the recently unveiled National Police Force could help challenge the organised groups behind high-end robberies, allowing local forces to focus on everyday shoplifting.
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HeadlineHow Retail Theft is Changing London’s Status as a Shopping Capital
Short HeadlineIs Retail Theft Ruining Shopping in London?
StandfirstWith shoplifting offences at their highest in two decades, preventative measures may also be turning customers off
Recent headlines paint a bleak picture of retail theft in London. From last week’s smash-and-grab jewel robbery in Richmond, to Tom Cruise abandoning his Knightsbridge apartment after a nearby Rolex heist, media attention has focused on theft in affluent areas of the capital.
High-end shopping districts with fashionable outlets are the recipient for much of this crime. Watches, jewellery, and expensive clothing are key targets for organised gangs, willing to rob stores in open daylight for a quick profit.
Alongside these robberies, London continues to see an epidemic of everyday shoplifting.
While violent crime has steadily fallen, shoplifting has seen an increase over the past five years. This is a country-wide trend that is especially pronounced in London.
Offences rose by 19% in 2025, in line with an overall increase of 165% beginning from 2021.
Recent data from the Metropolitan Police shows that most shoplifting is concentrated in Westminster, having over twice the number of offences as runner-up Camden.
According to the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the sector has “invested millions in crime prevention measures”. These range from locked cabinets and access control for staff to increased security and more comprehensive CCTV surveillance.
But there’s another issue. Tagging household items and locking goods behind glass makes in-person shopping an unfriendly, inaccessible experience.
When online shopping is popular and frictionless, consumers may be less willing to visit their local high street when the process involves further complications, time constraints and physical limitations.
London has the highest amount of retail footfall in the country, boasting shopping hubs such as Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street. Concerns around retail theft may be putting these districts at risk.
The nationwide downturn in footfall can be attributed to a variety of issues – cost of living, online ease, and lower consumer confidence – but creating a worse shopping environment will only accelerate this decline.
Lucy Whing, Crime Policy Advisor at the British Retail Consortium, is confident in the government’s Crime and Policing Bill. She hopes it will send “a clear signal that shoplifting will not be tolerated… improving the visibility of violence against retail workers so that police can allocate the necessary resources to tackle this challenge and protect our high streets”.
The bill will create a new specific offence for assaulting a shop-worker and lower the threshold for what is considered ‘low-value’ shoplifting. Legislation to empower police forces may prove necessary in tackling theft and protecting retail staff.
Andrew Goodacre is CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association. He told City News: “We are seeing a better response from the police. However, there are more than 500,000 incidents reported each year, and that is just the tip of the iceberg with the majority of retailers still not reporting incidents. Nearly every type of shop is a target for these criminals.”
Looking ahead, the recently unveiled National Police Force could help challenge the organised groups behind high-end robberies, allowing local forces to focus on everyday shoplifting.
