More male shoplifters than females in UK – new report claims

Not only do more men end up in prison for shoplifting and staff theft, they are predominantly older, more organised and often steal higher value goods, challenging the perception of store and staff theft being an opportunistic and 'harmless' offence carried out for a dare or an adrenalin kick.

Checkpoint Systems commissioned the report as part of its 'Stop Shrinkage' and 'Don't Take It Any More' awareness campaigns, supporting retail staff and educating offenders. It was carried out by the Centre for Retail Research. According to the CRR's Professor Joshua Bamfield, out of a prison population of 75,000, there are currently 1200 women behind bars for retail-related crimes, compared to 4000 males. Bamfield says there is not much to differentiate the average value of goods stolen by men and women – averaging £83 per offence – but as they get older the gap widens. Between the peak ages of 21 and 23, men steal an average of £163.64, compared to £92.84 for women, although female retail crime tends to carry on longer.

“The figures of those convicted who put 'Mrs' as a descriptor suggest that there are fewer married women actively involved in customer theft, with an average of £63. Those who put 'Ms' down stole on average £85."

Small-scale theft accounts for less than one third of the total customer theft, while around 22 per cent is theft of items of more than £500. The report says that women tend to target clothes, groceries, perfumery, toiletries and health products, while men corner the electronic black market with TVs, hairdryers, electrical toothbrushes and power tools, along with hardware, DIY products, and CDs. Theft by staff threw different figures, with women playing a more active role, although there are still more men involved, and stealing more. The figures show that of the 2476 staff thefts reported during a 12 month period by 14 retailers, 1,209 were women stealing an average of £816 per offence, while 1,277 were men whose average theft was worth £919.68.

"These figures reveal the fact that the criminal justice system does seem to be out of step with the retail reality," Bamfield said. "Shoplifting and staff crime, including fraud, are not harmless cases of pilfering, but more often than not organised raids on stores, and those who get caught are fall guys or girls for the organised criminals behind them."