Express & Star comment: High price is paid for shop thefts
We often hear shoplifting described as a victimless crime – usually by the light-fingered types who think their actions cause no harm.
In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
People can steal out of desperation, others because they are depressed, while for some it is just too easy to get away with.
But whatever the reasons behind the actions of shoplifters, the word 'victimless' is simply never appropriate.
Stores lose millions of pounds a year as a result of theft.
This results in staff being laid off, and in the worst circumstances, shops being forced to close down for good.
Our economy can't afford to deal with high rates of shoplifting, and neither can the people who rely on the retail industry to make a living.
All of which makes new figures showing a sharp rise in shoplifting across the West Midlands extremely worrying.
There were nearly 20,000 offences recorded over the last 12 months – a figure which is likely to be the tip of the iceberg as most shoplifting is not reported to the authorities.
Wolverhampton's sky-high rate is the worst in the region, with Sandwell not far behind.
According to retailers, the spike can partly be attributed to police forces not investigating the theft of items worth less than £200.
Bizarrely, since 2014 anyone charged with stealing goods costing less than that amount can plead guilty by post.
Of course, this is yet another cost-cutting measure, no doubt brought in with the best intentions in mind.
However, in reality such a weak system is failing.
It is clearly not proving to be a deterrent, as the figures show.
The Government and our criminal justice system appear to have given up any hope of tackling shoplifting.
With crime rates going through the roof – particularly for violent crime – it is likely to be some way down on the list of priorities.
Shoplifting should always be taken seriously. Quite frankly, it is laughable that some people build up dozens of theft cases against them without ever seeing the inside of a prison cell.
Mind you, at a time when criminals caught carrying knives are regularly spared jail, should we really be surprised?
