Shoplifting increased in West Mercia as the cost-of-living crisis ramped up, figures suggest.

But police-recorded thefts remain below pre-pandemic figures.

Much of 2022 has been dominated by surging inflation, rising food prices and soaring energy bills, which have left many households across the UK reassessing how they are going to pay the bills.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by RADAR revealed West Mercia Police recorded 2,973 shoplifting offences between April 1 and August 31 this year.

Although that was a rise of 30.7% compared to the 2,274 logged during the same period last year, the force recorded 3,449 thefts from shops over the five-month period in 2019 – 476 more.

Police forces were asked to provide the number of shoplifting offences recorded between the start of April and end of August, as well as the outcomes of such crimes.

Across England and Wales, 109,534 shoplifting offences were reported to the 38 police forces which responded to the FOI request – 22% more than last year, but a drop of 17.9% compared to 2019.

Between April and August, 442 (14.9%) shoplifting crimes resulted in a charge or summons in West Mercia, suggesting a significant proportion led to no suspect being charged – though some may still have been under investigation at the time of the request.

In response to rising wholesale gas prices, Ofgem raised the energy price cap for the typical UK household by more than 50% on April 1, before putting it up again at the start of October.

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Some major supermarkets reported that they were boosting security due to fears of an increase in shoplifting as household bills rose. 

Sabine Goodwin, coordinator of the Independent Food Aid Network, which comprises independent food banks across the UK, said people are becoming "more and more desperate" as the cost-of-living crisis exacerbates pre-existing poverty in Britain.

"People are being faced with impossible choices as food insecurity spirals out of control," she said.

The British Retail Consortium, which represents retailers in the UK including big-name food stores, said shoplifting remains a "significant" burden, costing retailers £663 million in 2020-21.

Tom Ironside, BRC director of business and regulation, said police-recorded crimes do not represent the whole picture as some staff are reluctant to report incidents due to "a lack of police response".