Supermarkets top shoplifting table

Big supermarkets were today revealed as favourite haunts for shoplifters in the Black Country.

Asda stores, many of which open 24 hours, have the most number of thefts that end up being referred to West Midlands Police.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show the top three stores in each of the region's boroughs over the last two years. It shows that shoplifters are targeting giant stores where large numbers assemble and they can attempt to hide in the crowd.

The figures refer to shoplifting offences passed on to the police. It masks the numbers who successfully escape with stolen goods or cases of shoplifting that are prevented or intercepted but that do not become a police matter.

More than half of shops recently questioned in a survey said that shoplifting had become a major problem, with cases rising as the recession bites.

Shoplifting has risen by more than 70 per cent since the year 2000 despite billions spent on security, research suggests.

Thieves steal an average of around £150 worth of goods in each incident, according to the British Retail Consortium, and it is estimated that shop crime in the UK cost the industry well over £2 billion a year.

Asda Molineux in Wolverhampton was identified in today's figures as the most targeted by shoplifters. Asda stores at Merry Hill and at Tipton were also in the Black Country's top four most targeted.

Asda spokeswoman Helen McTaggart said the firm does all it can to tackle thefts in its supermarket.

She added: "We adopt a range of security measures to counter shoplifting, but the bottom line is that theft is wrong and the costs of crime put up prices for the majority of law-abiding shoppers.

"We have a strong relationship with the local police force to help keep crime levels down. Given that more than 17 million customers shop in our stores each week, the number of incidents we have to deal with are extremely low."

Boots, whose store in Park Street, Walsall made the list, says it has invested significantly in crime prevention and has a number of measures in place but is committed to improving security measures for the protection of its people and property.

Debenhams, whose Merry Hill store recorded 189 crimes, was unavailable for comment.

Favourite haunts for the shoplifters

Stores with the highest number of recorded shoplifting offences in the Black Country, 2007 and 2008.

Wolverhampton

Asda, Molineux Way, Number of offences: 209

T J Hughes, Bell Street,Number of offences: 98

Boots,Dudley Street, Number of offences :90

Walsall

Boots, Park Street, Number of offences: 143

Asda St Lawrence Way, Darlaston, Number of offences: 122

Asda, Woodall Street, Bloxwich, Number of offences: 120

Dudley

Debenhams, Lower Mall, Merry Hill, Number of offences : 189

Asda, Lower Mall, Merry Hill, Number of offences: 145

Boots, Lower Mall, Merry Hill: Number of offences: 124

Sandwell

Asda, Brickhouse Lane South, Tipton Number of offences: 191

Asda,Cape Hill, Smethwick Number of offences: 189

Asda, Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury: Number of offences: 104