Shoplifting Soars in Somerset: Central Bath & Lansdown Emerges as the South West’s Hardest Hit High Street

Shoplifting in Britain is surging, with Somerset’s Central Bath & Lansdown identified as the South West’s retail theft hotspot. Police across England and Wales recorded over 500,000 shoplifting offences in 2024, marking a 20% increase from the previous year and the highest level in more than two decades. Avon and Somerset Constabulary reported 18,243 offences, a 24% rise.

This wave of crime includes a disturbing trend known as “Kamikaze” shoplifting, where thieves brazenly steal in plain sight, often with little fear of repercussions. More than half of retail workers (56%) have witnessed this form of theft, with 13% seeing it happen daily and 37% encountering it weekly, according to research by SafetyCulture.

The British Independent Retail Association (Bira) warns that this trend has reached a “tipping point,” as criminals increasingly act with impunity. Meanwhile, security firms report a growing number of pensioners shoplifting, driven by financial strains amid the cost-of-living crisis. John Nussbaum of Kingdom Service highlighted that shoplifting is now affecting demographics previously unlikely to offend.

Local police data reveals that Central Bath & Lansdown recorded 922 shoplifting incidents last year alone—equivalent to one theft every nine hours. Following this, Bridgwater Town in Sedgemoor reported 463 offences, and Weston Town in North Somerset had 451.

Jeff Moody, Chief Commercial Officer at Bira, emphasizes the severe impact on independent retailers: “Retail crime is spiralling out of control. Over 80% of our members faced theft in the past year, with many incidents happening during open hours. Yet half choose not to report these crimes due to a lack of faith in enforcement.”

The financial toll is staggering. The British Retail Consortium estimates that retailers lost £4.2 billion to crime in 2023, with £2.2 billion attributed to shoplifting alone. This theft fuels violence and abuse against staff, pushing up costs and degrading the shopping experience.

The growing epidemic demands urgent responses from law enforcement and the judicial system to protect shops and their employees. As independent retailers form the backbone of local communities, the current trajectory poses a significant threat to the vitality of high streets.

Top 10 Somerset and South West neighbourhoods with the highest shoplifting incidents: