Star comment: Enough! It’s time to stop shoplifters

As new figures show, shops in the Black Country are being targeted at a rate of more than one every day of the year.

The trouble is that the police are often guilty of describing such offences as 'low level' crime.

But for shopkeepers it is a daily scourge.

It certainly won't seem 'low level' for the private security guards who find themselves confronting all manner of people in sometimes dangerous situations.

You only have to look at the daily magistrates' court listings to see the extent of shoplifting across the region.

Some offenders have a list of previous convictions totalling more than 100.

The perpetrators may think that they are committing a victimless crime but they could not be more wrong.

Business crime costs this country millions of pounds a year and can have a devastating effect on employers and workers.

Someone has to pick up the cost and it is people's livelihoods that are paying the price.

Just because a business may be successful it certainly does not give anybody the right to steal from it.

Part of the problem is that the courts have been reluctant to send such offenders to prison.

Many shoplifters are in a vicious cycle of stealing to fund drink and drug problems.

For years the judiciary has been referring people to counselling and for medical help to tackle their addictions.

But there does come a point when enough is enough.

There are examples of people abusing the system after being given chance after chance.

If repeat shoplifters are taken off the streets then they can no longer be a menace.

Magistrates and judges should not be afraid of issuing the toughest sentences available to them.

A message has to be sent out that society will not tolerate this situation any longer.

There is a lot to be said about having a visible police presence in our towns and villages.

Maybe some of these criminals would think twice if they knew there was bobby on the corner of the street.

It is about time we showed support to shop workers and give them the protection they deserve from opportunists who inflict misery upon them.