British Retail Consortium’s annual Retail Crime Report revealed in 2016 that the total cost of theft to the retail industry was £613, 000,000. The report reveals that the increased value of items stolen compared to the drop in total number of crimes has led industry experts to conclude that crime against retailers is increasingly being carried out by sophisticated criminals stealing to order (potentially targeting luxury retail brands).
The report also shows there has been a significant increase in violence and abuse against staff in recent years, highlighting the importance of a strong and reliable system.